Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A line along either of the two sides of a playing court or field, marking its limits.
  • noun The space outside such limits, occupied by coaches, inactive players, and spectators.
  • noun The position or point of view of those who observe rather than participate in an activity.
  • noun A subsidiary line of merchandise.
  • noun An activity pursued in addition to one's regular occupation.
  • transitive verb To remove or keep from active participation.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A line pertaining or attached to the side of something; specifically, in the plural, lines by which the fore and hind feet on the same side of a horse or other animal are tied to prevent straying or escape.
  • noun A line or course of business aside from or additional to one's regular occupation.
  • To hobble, as a horse.
  • noun In foot-ball, hockey, and similar games, a line defining the limit of play on the side of the field, and outside of which the ball is out of bounds.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • A line pertaining or attached to the side of a thing.
  • Specif., a line for hobbling an animal by connecting the fore and the hind feet of the same side.
  • Canada, Canada A line of goods sold in addition to one's principal articles of trade; a course of business pursued aside from one's regular occupation.
  • Canada A secondary road; esp., a byroad at right angles to a main road.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A line at the side of something, as in "the yellow sideline of the road".
  • noun sports A line defining the side boundary of a playing field.
  • noun usually plural The area outside the playing field beyond each sideline.
  • noun The outside or perimeter of any activity.
  • noun Something that is additional or extra or that exists around the edges or margins of a main item.
  • verb transitive To place on the sidelines; to bench or to keep someone out of play.
  • verb transitive To remove or keep out of circulation.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an auxiliary line of merchandise
  • verb remove from the center of activity or attention; place into an inferior position
  • noun an auxiliary activity
  • noun a line that marks the side boundary of a playing field

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

side + line

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Examples

  • Nick Barnett is able to play sideline to sideline from the middle, and weakside linebacker A.J. Hawk is capable against the run or the pass.

    Favre's heir? With backing from mates, Rodgers waits patiently 2008

  • And once it became clear that he would undergo a hearing, why did Griffin sideline himself with the colorful observation that undergoing Senate confirmation would be "like volunteering to stand in front of a firing squad in the middle of a three-ring circus?"

    Balkinization 2007

  • And once it became clear that he would undergo a hearing, why did Griffin sideline himself with the colorful observation that undergoing Senate confirmation would be "like volunteering to stand in front of a firing squad in the middle of a three-ring circus?"

    Balkinization 2007

  • And once it became clear that he would undergo a hearing, why did Griffin sideline himself with the colorful observation that undergoing Senate confirmation would be "like volunteering to stand in front of a firing squad in the middle of a three-ring circus?"

    Balkinization 2007

  • And once it became clear that he would undergo a hearing, why did Griffin sideline himself with the colorful observation that undergoing Senate confirmation would be "like volunteering to stand in front of a firing squad in the middle of a three-ring circus?"

    Balkinization 2007

  • And once it became clear that he would undergo a hearing, why did Griffin sideline himself with the colorful observation that undergoing Senate confirmation would be "like volunteering to stand in front of a firing squad in the middle of a three-ring circus?"

    Balkinization 2007

  • And once it became clear that he would undergo a hearing, why did Griffin sideline himself with the colorful observation that undergoing Senate confirmation would be "like volunteering to stand in front of a firing squad in the middle of a three-ring circus?"

    Balkinization 2007

  • And once it became clear that he would undergo a hearing, why did Griffin sideline himself with the colorful observation that undergoing Senate confirmation would be "like volunteering to stand in front of a firing squad in the middle of a three-ring circus?"

    Balkinization 2007

  • And once it became clear that he would undergo a hearing, why did Griffin sideline himself with the colorful observation that undergoing Senate confirmation would be "like volunteering to stand in front of a firing squad in the middle of a three-ring circus?"

    Balkinization 2007

  • And once it became clear that he would undergo a hearing, why did Griffin sideline himself with the colorful observation that undergoing Senate confirmation would be "like volunteering to stand in front of a firing squad in the middle of a three-ring circus?"

    Balkinization 2007

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