touchback

[ tuhch-bak ]
/ ˈtʌtʃˌbæk /

noun Football.

a play in which the ball is downed after having been kicked into the end zone by the opposing team or having been recovered or intercepted there, or in which it has been kicked beyond the end zone. Compare safety(def 6a).

Origin of touchback

First recorded in 1885–90; touch + back2

Words nearby touchback

touch-sensitive, touch-tackle, touch-tone, touch-type, touch-up, touchback, touchdown, touched, touched by, be, touched in the head, touchhole

Example sentences from the Web for touchback

British Dictionary definitions for touchback

touchback
/ (ˈtʌtʃˌbæk) /

noun

American football a play in which the ball is put down by a player behind his own goal line when the ball has been put across the goal line by an opponent Compare safety (def. 4b)