halfback

Meanings

1. Any of various positions on the field of play between the forwards and the fullbacks.
2. A player who occupies one of these positions.
3. An offensive back whose primary jobs are to carry the ball on running plays and to serve as a receiver or blocker on passing plays.
4. A defensive back whose primary jobs are to cover the slotback on passing plays and prevent running plays from going to the outside.
5. A player in the halfback position, with both offensive and defensive roles.
6. One of three players (the centre halfback and two halfback flankers) on the line between the centre line and the fullback line.
7. The player who feeds the ball into the scrum, and receives the ball as it emerges from the back of the scrum.
8. A person from the northern United States who moves to Florida, but then due to the heat or other issues, moves again to a more temperate climate, primarily the Carolinas.

1. To play in the position of halfback.

Etymology

From half + back, in reference to position on the field of play; compare fullback. In the sense of someone who moves to Florida and then to a more temperate climate, from moving "half way back"