- D-line is a clipping of defensive line. D- is a metonymy for defense. Furthermore, -line describes four position within the unit, including two defensive tackles and two defensive ends. D-line is a good term to use if you are familiar with the sport. However, it is not very useful if you are having a conversation with someone uneducated in the sport.
D-line
noun; clipping
The defensive line unit on a football team.
Etymology : D is short for defense, first used in the 1300c. From the Latin term defensus. Line came from a Middle English merger of Old English line ’cable rope’ and Old French ligne ‘guideline, cord, string’
Source : “Our d-line needs to stop the run this week” -David Baliff discussing the keys to beating UTEP
Last modified: 6 December 2016