| Main Entry: |
umpire |
| Part of Speech: |
noun |
| Definition: |
person who settles dispute |
Synonyms: |
adjudicator, arbiter, arbitrator, assessor, compromiser, inspector,
judge,
justice,
mediator, moderator, negotiator, peacemaker,
proprietor, ref, referee, settler, ump
|
| Notes: |
referee originally referred to a person appointed by the British Parliament to examine patent applications (1621) and was formed from English refer and -ee. The sense of 'an arbitrator or person to whom a dispute is referred' was first recorded in 1690; by 1840 the word acquired the further sense of 'the judge of play in games and sports.' Baseball, boxing, and cricket have umpires; basketball, hockey, rugby, and football have referees - and American football has both. |
