DCHP-1 Online

face-off faceoff

• 1 n. in hockey, lacrosse, etc. the putting of the puck or ball into play by dropping it between the sticks of two opposing players facing each other.

  • 1896  In the face-off Bishop lost, and Gilmore scored in 10 minutes.
  • 1902  . . . when in the face-off he secured the ball, Hughie clung so tenaciously to his heels and checked him so effectually, that he was forced to resign it to the Reds, who piercing the Twentieth center, managed to scurry up the ice with the ball between them.
  • 1966  . . . Horton is probably the strongest man in the league on faceoffs.

• 2 n. in hockey, lacrosse, etc. the start of a game.

  • 1899  From the face off till the finish the home team showed to better advantage in combination and general team work.
  • 1964  By curtain, or face-off, time the house was about three-quarters full, and when Frank Mahovlich scored after five minutes of the first period there was a loud roar of appreciation.