footballern.
/ˈfʊtbɔːlə/, U.S. /ˈfʊtˌbɔlər/, /ˈfʊtˌbɑlər/ A person who plays any of the variety of games called football, esp. professionally or in organized matches. Also with modifying word indicating quality or style of play.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > [noun] > player
football player1421
footballist1851
footballer1852
1852 Leisure Hour 16 Sept. 598/1 A huge inflated ball of India-rubber, which they received as it fell, not as with our foot-ballers on the toes, but upon their clenched fists.
1880 Melbourne Bull. 29 Oct. 5/1 The Champion Footballers race for a quarter mile.
1923 F. Swinnerton Young Felix ii. vi. 145 Jack was also a footballer of skill.
1967 Tucson (Arizona) Daily Citizen 7 Sept. 25 Instead of donning mod garb in the latest styles, footballers are decked out for protection.
2010 A. Thompson What doesn't kill you makes you Stronger ii. 11 Mum..was a natural footballer.., and to this day a lot of people say I got my ability and skill from her.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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