coffin corner

noun

1. Football. a corner of the field inside the ten-yard line, especially as the target of a punt intended to go out of bounds in this area and so put the receiving team in a position near its goal line.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coffin corner¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

"We may be approaching what in aviation is called a 'coffin corner', the delicate spot when an aircraft slows to below its stall speed and cannot generate enough lift to maintain its altitude," Carsten said.

From Reuters

The Dallas Cowboys coined the term Hail Mary, and now they’re putting a different spin on the coffin corner.

From Seattle Times

After watching that end-over-end boot, followed by a coffin corner punt, I find that hard to believe.

From Golf Digest

The coffin corner is dead, long live the coffin corner: All punts that travel out of bounds inside the 35 yard line are placed at the 35 yard line.

From Golf Digest

Let’s set that aside for the moment — punt on that question, if you will — and examine “coffin corner,” which we know in football as those areas that punters aim for, at the intersection of the sideline and goal line, in order to pin opponents deep in their own territory.

From Los Angeles Times