hash mark

[ hash mahrk ]

noun

1. a military service stripe worn on the sleeve of an enlisted person.
2. the symbol (#); pound sign.
3. Football. the marking formed by either inbounds line intersecting with one of the lines delineating yardage between the goal lines.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hash mark¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

“We bundled up pretty good. None of my kids had played in the snow. We couldn’t see the numbers, couldn’t see the hash marks.”

From Los Angeles Times

Carroll’s abundance of energy can be translated to training camp where he’s attracted widespread media attention by sprinting along the hash marks, completing passing to receivers and running out to players after a successful drill.

From Seattle Times

Lind sent the puck to McCormick at the hash marks and the Firebirds captain flicked it in.

From Seattle Times

That’s why the referee or linesman dropping the puck ensures both players taking the draw have skates pointed straight ahead and planted near, but not over, hash marks within the circle.

From Seattle Times

President Ronald Reagan made “hash marks” to divide his speeches into 30-second chunks.

From New York Times