pivotman

English

Alternative forms

• pivot man

Etymology

From pivot +‎ man.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɪvətman/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

pivotman (plural pivotmen)

1. (military) A pivot; the soldier around whom a body of troops wheels.
2. (sports) A player in a central position.
   • 2008 March 9, Oscar Robertson, “When the Big O First Played the Garden: 56 in ’58”, in New York Times‎:

     An injury had sidelined our 6-10 senior pivotman, Connie Dierking, so we were still adjusting at both ends of the court.

3. (figurative) A central or key person; someone around whom a particular project etc. rotates.
   • 2017, David Friend, The Naughty Nineties, Twelve Books:

     George Stephanopoulos was the campaign's floppy-banged pivot man for communications.