IPA: /ˈbluːˌlaɪnər/
KK: /ˈbluːˌlaɪnər/
A player in ice hockey who plays on the blue line, primarily responsible for defense.
The blueliner made a crucial play to stop the opposing team from scoring.
Blueliner is formed from "blue" (from Old English "blǣw", meaning the color blue) and "liner" (from the verb "line", meaning to cover or line something). The term refers to a player in ice hockey who plays primarily on the blue line, which is a key area on the rink.
Think of the color 'blue' representing the blue line in hockey, and 'liner' indicating someone who plays along that line.