umpire

Etymology

From a Middle English rebracketing of a noumpere as an oumpere, from Old French nonper (“odd number, not even (as a tie-breaking arbitrator)”), from non (“not”) + per (“equal”), from Latin par (“equal”).

noun

1. (tennis, badminton) The official who presides over a tennis match sat on a high chair.
2. (cricket) One of the two white-coated officials who preside over a cricket match.
3. (baseball) One of the officials who preside over a baseball game.
   The umpire called the pitch a strike.
4. (American football) The official who stands behind the line on the defensive side or next to the referee on the offensive side.
   The umpire must keep on his toes as the play often occurs around him.
5. (Australian rules football) A match official on the ground deciding and enforcing the rules during play. As of 2007 the Australian Football League uses three; in the past there were two or just one. The other officials, the goal umpires and boundary umpires, are usually referred to by those phrases.
6. (law) A person who arbitrates between contending parties.
7. (curling) The official who presides over a curling game.

verb

1. (sports, intransitive) To act as an umpire in a game.
   Coordinate term: referee
2. (transitive) To decide as an umpire.