Etymology

dimeback

D2I1M3E1B3A1C3K5

Today it means: A sixth defensive back (in addition to two cornerbacks, two safeties and a nickelback) who is deployed for additional pass coverage. Full definition →

Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

Blend of dime + cornerback. Modelled on quarterback: both the quarter (“25 cents”) and the dime (“10 cents”) are American coins, though quarterback was not named for the coin. Coined due to the dimeback being one additional defensive back more than the nickelback, since the 10-cent dime is more than the 5-cent nickel. See more at nickelback.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.