Quarterback
/ˈkwɔːr.tər.bæk/noun
A player in American football who directs the offense and usually passes the ball.
Did you know?The word is a transparent compound from football strategy: the player stood about a quarter of the way back from the line of scrimmage, so the name literally described field position, not power or magic.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
quarter
“A fourth part; one of four equal parts.”
Middle English
English
back
“The rear side or behind position.”
19th Century
English
quarter-back
“In American football, a player positioned a quarter of the way behind the line of scrimmage.”
Late 19th Century
English
quarterback
“The established one-word form for that football position.”
Modern English
English
quarterback
“The offensive leader in American football, often the team’s field general.”
Explore more surprising origins