soccer

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Association football.

   The 'Varsity played Aston Villa and were beaten after a very exciting game; this was pre-eminently the most important "Socker" game played in Oxford this term.

2. 2
   verb

   To kick the football directly off the ground, without using one's hands.

   The rule seems to have encouraged players to soccer the ball along the ground.

3. 3
   noun

   a football game in which two teams of 11 players try to kick or head a ball into the opponents' goal

Etymology

Originally British English; as an abbreviation for association football, via abbreviation assoc. + -er (suffix); earlier socker (1885), also socca (1889), with soccer attested 1888. Compare contemporary rugger, from rugby. Similarly constructed coinages from the same period include: brekker (“breakfast”), fresher (“freshman”) and footer (“football”). See Oxford -er.