REDSHIRT Definition & Meaning

redshirt

[red-shurt]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

1. a high school or college athlete kept out of varsity competition for one year to develop skills and extend eligibility.
2. a child held back from starting kindergarten for one year, the practice of which is believed by some parents to give the child academic, athletic, and social advantages.
a character in a TV show or movie who dies soon after being first introduced.
She's a redshirt who won’t make it to the next scene.

verb (used with object)

1. to withdraw (an athlete) from varsity competition for one year.
2. to delay (a child) from starting kindergarten for one year.
  They redshirt their kids because they think it gives them a competitive edge.
to quickly kill off (a character) in a TV show or movie.
That guard is totally going to be redshirted in the next five minutes.

verb (used without object)

1. (of an athlete) to withdraw from varsity competition for one year.
  He redshirted in 2010, only to come back faster and stronger the following season.
2. to delay a child from starting kindergarten for one year.
  Would you redshirt if your kid’s preschool teacher recommended it?

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of redshirt¹

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55 for redshirt def. 1, from the red shirts worn in practice by such athletes; in redshirt def. 2, the term is a reference to the original Star Trek series (1966–69), in which characters in red shirts, usually security personnel or engineers, were often killed off as a plot device

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Luckily for Orloff, he preserved most of his pitching staff thanks to redshirt sophomore left-hander Ryder Brooks’ start.

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UC Irvine will turn to redshirt sophomore right-hander Riley Kelly against Fresno State on Saturday.

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Nico Iamaleava brings some much needed cachet to the Bruins after leading the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff in his redshirt freshman season.

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The redshirt sophomore took first-string repetitions Saturday, followed by Nick Billoups, Henry Hasselbeck and Colton Gumino.

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Other options to play small forward could include redshirt freshman Eric Freeny, sophomore Trent Perry, redshirt sophomore Brandon Williams and Jamar Brown, a transfer from Missouri-Kansas City.

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redshifted redshirting

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