zaguero

defender

noun sah-GEH-roh Rare

Origin: From zaga (rear), from Arabic sāqa (rear guard).

Also means

fullback

Usage Note

Zaguero is a sports term for a player who defends at the back, used in football (fútbol), basketball, and especially in pelota vasca (Basque ball). It comes from zaga (rear), which in turn derives from Arabic. The feminine form is zaguera. In everyday Spanish, defensa or defensor is more common for a football defender.

Examples

"El zaguero despejó el balón con fuerza."

Natural Translation

The defender cleared the ball with force.

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