zone defence | zone defensenoun
Factsheet
What does the noun zone defence mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zone defence. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
How common is the noun zone defence?
| 1920 | 0.025 |
| 1930 | 0.029 |
| 1940 | 0.033 |
| 1950 | 0.034 |
| 1960 | 0.037 |
| 1970 | 0.039 |
| 1980 | 0.04 |
| 1990 | 0.04 |
| 2000 | 0.04 |
| 2010 | 0.035 |
Where does the noun zone defence come from?
Earliest known use
1920s
The earliest known use of the noun zone defence is in the 1920s.
Nearby entries
- zona reticularis, n.1874–
- zonarious, adj.1656–
- zonary, adj.1881–
- zonate, adj.1866–
- zonated, adj.1803–
- zonation, n.1898–
- zone, n.a1500–
- zone, v.1792–
- zone centre | zone center, n.1934–
- zoned, adj.1662–
- zone defence | zone defense, n.1927–
- zone electrophoresis, n.1952–
- zone fossil, n.1904–
- zoneless, adj.1748–
- zonelet, n.1855–
- zone level, v.1974–
- zone leveller, n.1956–
- zone levelling, n.1953–
- zone-melt, v.1982–
- zone melting, n.1952–
- zone plate, n.1890–
Meaning & use
- 1927–A system of defensive play whereby each player guards an allotted portion of the field of play.
- 1927
Zone defense
[see zone n. 2d]. - 1929
Zone defense, in which each individual is responsible for a certain zone.
H. C. Carlson, You & Basket Ball vi. 128 - 1937
It is to be noticed in charting these penetrating offensive plays against a zone defense that the setup of the offense is identical with that used in penetrating the man-for-man defense.
F. C. Allen, Better Basketball xviii. 291 - 1970
Zone defense, a type of pass defense in which each of the three linebackers and four deep backs is assigned to cover a specific area of the field. Zone defense contrasts with man-to-man defense.
G. Sullivan, Pro Football A to Z 341
- zone1927–American Football and Basketball. A specific area of the court to be defended by a particular player; also, a mode of defensive play employing this…
- zone defence1927–A system of defensive play whereby each player guards an allotted portion of the field of play.
- press1945–Basketball. Intense pressure applied by the defending team to the attacking team, typically in order to force the attacking team into losing…
- full-court press1947–A defensive strategy in which intense pressure is applied to the opposing team over the entire length of the court (cf. press, n.¹ IV.11f); (also…
- box-and-one1958–A defensive strategy in which four players are positioned at each corner of the free-throw lane, each playing zone defence, while the remaining…
- ankle-breaker2001–Basketball. A dribbling technique in which a player suddenly changes direction by switching the ball rapidly from one hand to the other, causing…
society leisure sport types of sport or game ball game football American football [nouns] actions or manoeuvres- rush1857–American Football and (occasionally) Rugby. An act by a defensive player of rushing the quarterback or a kicker. Cf. pass rush, n.
- fair catch1861–a. (In Rugby Union and Australian Rules football) a catch of a ball kicked by an opposing player leading to a mark (mark, n.¹ VII.32); b. American F…
- punt-out1861–A long kick upfield.
- goal-kicking1871–spec. Rugby and (occasionally) American Football. The action of taking a goal kick (goal kick, n. 1a); the art of being a goalkicker.
- safety1879–Sport. An action intended to make one's position safer. American Football. An act of carrying the ball into one's own end zone; a score of two…
- safety touchdown1879–= safety touch, n.
- scrimmage1880–American Football and Canadian Football. A sequence of play in which opposing players take up position on either side of an imaginary line…
- rushing1882–American Football and Rugby. In defensive play: the action of running towards and attempting to tackle or hinder the opposing team's quarterback or…
- blocking1883–American Football. The action of obstructing an opponent, esp. a defensive player, by interposing one's body, as a legal move. Cf. block, v.¹ I.4.
- forward pass1884–A pass or throw in the direction of an opposing team's goal; spec. (a) American Football a pass in the direction of the opposing goal line…
- safety touch1884–= safety, n. II.6b.
- touchback1884–The action or fact of a team being awarded possession of the ball at a specific point on the field (now usually its own 20-yard line) resulting…
- passback1887–American Football. A backward pass from the centre to put the ball in play; = snap-back, n. 1b.
- run1890–Sport. American Football. = running play, n.
- signal1891–American Football. A coded verbal instruction given by a player, typically the quarterback, to other team members which specifies the next play or…
- fake1893–Sport (originally and chiefly U.S.). An act of faking or feinting to deceive one's opponent; a feint. Cf. fake, v.² 8.
- running play1894–A play in which an offensive player attempts to advance the ball by running with it after a handoff or a lateral; cf. pass play, n.
- straight-arm1894–American Football. A push or blow delivered by the ball carrier to fend off a potential tackler, using the arm held out straight from the body; the…
- onside kick1895–A short kick-off in which the ball is sent only slightly further than the legally required distance of 10 yards.
- straight-arming1895–American Football. The action of fending off a potential tackler using one's arm held out straight from one's body. Also figurative and in…
- tandem-play1895–See quot.
- pass play1896–A play in which the ball is passed between members of the same team; cf. running play, n.
- spiral1896–American Football. A kick or pass in which the ball in flight spins round its long axis.
- shift1901–American Football and Canadian Football. A sudden change from one offensive formation to another, achieved by one or more players changing their…
- end run1902–a. In American football, an attempt by the ball-carrier to run round his or her own end (end, n. I.3g) and towards the goal; b. figurative an…
- quarterback sneak1904–A play in which a quarterback carries the ball instead of handing or passing it to another player, esp. a short fast run through the offensive line.
- runback1905–American Football. A run made to advance a ball received after a change of possession, esp. a ball caught after a kick-off or punt.
- roughing1906–Sport. American Football, Ice Hockey, and Lacrosse. Any of various instances of violent behaviour, resulting in a penalty; foul tackling, punching…
- Minnesota shift1910–An attacking manoeuvre used in college football, originally developed by the University of Minnesota team (see quot. 1971).
- quarterbacking1910–American Football. The action of playing or directing as quarterback. Frequently attributive.
- snap-back1910–American Football and Canadian Football. A backward pass from the centre which puts the ball in play to begin a scrimmage.
- pickoff1912–American Football. An interception.
- block1914–American Football and Canadian Football. An act of obstructing an opponent from reaching or tackling the ball carrier by interposing one's body…
- punt return1914–An act of fielding and running a football punted by the opposite team.
- screen forward pass1915–A short forward pass to a receiver at or behind the line of scrimmage who is shielded by a screen of blockers; now superseded by screen pass, n.
- lateral pass1916–A side or backward pass to a teammate (cf. forward pass, n.).
- screen pass1920–A short pass to a receiver at or behind the line of scrimmage who is shielded by a screen of blockers; cf. screen forward pass, n.
- bootleg1921–American Football and Canadian Football. A play in which the quarterback feigns a hand-off to a teammate, then runs towards one sideline while…
- pass defence1921–Defensive play aimed at preventing a pass being successfully completed by the offence.
- power play1921–Sport. A concentration of players at a particular point; (American Football) a play in which the ball carrier is preceded by other players acting…
- sneak1921–American Football. = quarterback sneak, n.
- snap1922–American Football and Canadian Football. A backward pass from the centre which puts the ball in play to begin a scrimmage; = snap-back, n. 1b.
- bootlegger1923–American Football and Canadian Football. A trick play in which a quarterback feigns a hand-off to a teammate so as to misdirect the opposition…
- defence1923–Sport. The action or an act of seeking to prevent the opposition from scoring points, goals, etc., or otherwise gaining an advantage; a strategy or…
- reverse1924–American Football. A trick play in which a running player receives a handoff from the quarterback, runs behind the line of scrimmage, and hands the…
- carry1927–American Football. An act of running or rushing with the ball. Later also Rugby: an act of running hard with the ball into the opposition…
- lateral1927–American Football. = lateral pass, n. Cf. lateral, v.
- stiff-arm1927–(transitive) (occasionallyabsol.) to fend off or push with a stiff arm; hence figurative, to rebuff or reject; also as n. usually attributive) in…
- zone1927–American Football and Basketball. A specific area of the court to be defended by a particular player; also, a mode of defensive play employing this…
- zone defence1927–A system of defensive play whereby each player guards an allotted portion of the field of play.
- bomb1928–Sport. American Football. A long forward pass thrown to a receiver far downfield in order to gain substantial yardage with a single play…
- submarine charge1928–A charge in which a defensive lineman ducks below the block of an offensive lineman; cf. submarine, v. 4, submarine tackle, n.
- squib1929–North American Sport (esp. American Football and Baseball). A hit, kick, or throw which travels only a short distance, esp. as a result of being…
- gang tackle1932–An instance of gang tackling.
- pass rushing1933–Defensive play aimed at preventing the opposing quarterback from passing by engaging in a pass rush. Cf. pass rush, n.
- safetying1933–American Football. The action of playing in the position of safety. Cf. safety, n. II.11. rare.
- trap play1933–A tactical manoeuvre in which a defensive player is allowed by the attacking team to cross the line of scrimmage and then blocked, thus creating a…
- end-around1934–a. American Football an offensive running play in which an end (end, n. I.3g) carries the ball behind his or her own team's line and round the…
- trap1935–American Football. = trap play, n.
- mousetrap1936–Extended uses. American Football. A play in which a defensive lineman is allowed to cross the line of scrimmage before being blocked, thus creating…
- buttonhook1938–American Football. A passing play in which a receiver runs straight downfield and then doubles back sharply towards the line of scrimmage to…
- blitzing1940–
- hand-off1940–American Football. An offensive manoeuvre in which a player, esp. the quarterback, hands the ball to a teammate; a play on which this occurs; a…
- submarine tackle1942–A low tackle; a tackle aimed at the legs or knees; cf. submarine, v. 4, submarine charge, n.
- pitchout1946–American Football. A (usually short) lateral pass behind the line of scrimmage, esp. from a quarterback to a running back.
- slant1947–American Football. (a) An attacking play in which the ball-carrier moves into the line of scrimmage at an oblique angle. (b) In full, slant-in…
- strike1947–In certain games. American Football. A forward pass, straight into the hands of the receiver.
- draw play1948–A running play in which the quarterback initially drops back as if to throw a pass, so as to draw the defensive linemen forward and out of position…
- shovel pass1948–An underarm, forward pass made with a shovelling movement of the arms; so as v. transitive and intransitive.
- option1950–American Football. A play in which the halfback, fullback, or receiver, having received the ball from the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage…
- red dog1950–American Football. A play in which the linebackers or defensive backs rush the quarterback; = blitz, n. c.
- red-dogging1951–The action of rushing the quarterback.
- rollout1951–American Football. A manoeuvre in which a quarterback moves quickly toward the sideline before attempting to pass or run the football; rollout pass…
- submarine1952–U.S. colloquial. American Football. A submarine charge or tackle (see compounds C.2c); (also) a player attempting this. rare.
- turnover1953–Sport (originally U.S.). A loss of possession of the ball to the opposing team.
- clothesline1954–Chiefly U.S. Sport. A blow across the neck (or sometimes head) with an outstretched arm; a move in which a person is knocked down with such a blow…
- sleeper pass1954–A pass unexpectedly involving a player hitherto ignored.
- draw1956–American Football and Canadian Football. A running play in which the quarterback initially drops back as if to throw a pass, then hands the ball off…
- sprint-out1958–A play in which the quarterback sprints towards the sideline before attempting to pass or run the ball; cf. rollout, n. B.2.
- gadget play1959–An unusual and often elaborate offensive play, in which misdirection and unorthodox tactics are used to deceive the opposing team; a trick play.
- swing pass1960–A short pass to a back running to the outside.
- pass rush1962–An attempt by the defensive team to prevent the opposing quarterback from passing by harrying or tackling; play featuring such attempts.
- blitz1963–American Football. A charge by one or more defensive backs into the offensive backfield, esp. to prevent or disrupt a passing play.
- spearing1964–North American. American Football. The illegal action of ramming or butting a member of an opposing team with the helmet.
- onsides kick1965–= onside kick n. at onside, adj.¹
- takeaway1967–American Football and Ice Hockey. An instance of regaining possession of the ball or puck from the opposing team during play.
- quarterback sack1968–= sack, n.¹ I.1j.
- smash-mouth1968–American Football. A forcefully aggressive or confrontational style of play, spec. a style of attack that relies on running the ball rather than on…
- veer1968–American Football. An offensive play which makes use of a modified T-formation with a split backfield, allowing the quarterback the ‘triple…
- bump-and-run1970–American Football. A defensive technique in which a defender attempts to hit a receiver near the line of scrimmage, then runs with the receiver to…
- scramble1971–American Football. An impromptu movement by a quarterback to evade tacklers. Cf. sense 1d of the verb.
- sack1972–In American football, an act or occasion of tackling a quarter-back behind the scrimmage line before he or she can make a pass.
- nose tackle1975–= middle guard, n. (b); cf. nose guard, n. (b).
- nickel1979–American Football. = nickel defence, n.
- touch pass1980–a. American Football a pass that is not thrown at full speed or strength; b. Basketball a pass made by using one’s hands to redirect a ball in…
- pressure1981–American Football. Esp. as a statistical measure: an instance of a defensive player forcing the quarterback to make a play when not ready to do so.
- pick1984–American Football. An interception. Cf. to pick off 4 at pick, v.¹ phrasal verbs 4.
- West Coast offence1993–A style of offensive strategy relying on short, horizontal passes to open up gaps in the opposing defence.
- pick-six2001–An interception that leads to a touchdown scored by the intercepting team on the same play.
Forms
Variant forms
U.S. zone defense.Frequency
zone defence typically occurs about 0.04 times per million words in modern written English.
zone defence is in frequency band 3, which contains words occurring between 0.01 and 0.1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands
Frequency of zone defence | zone defense, n., 1920–2010
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.
The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.
For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.
| Decade | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 1920 | 0.025 |
| 1930 | 0.029 |
| 1940 | 0.033 |
| 1950 | 0.034 |
| 1960 | 0.037 |
| 1970 | 0.039 |
| 1980 | 0.04 |
| 1990 | 0.04 |
| 2000 | 0.04 |
| 2010 | 0.035 |
Frequency of zone defence | zone defense, n., 2017–2024
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the corpus.
| Period | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 0.31 |
| 2018 | 0.28 |
| 2019 | 0.27 |
| 2020 | 0.26 |
| 2021 | 0.26 |
| 2022 | 0.25 |
| 2023 | 0.26 |
| 2024 | 0.28 |