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by dontaskme on October 29th, 2004

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Why do Americans call soccer (a sport played with foot) "soccer" while calling football (a sport played with the hands) "football"?

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  • by metalbolt on November 4th, 2004

    metalbolt

    We have to thank the students of the 1880s for the word "soccer". It seems it was the practice amonst the well bred students of Oxford to abbreviate words whilst adding "er" to the end; "brekkers" for breakfast for example.

    One asked if he wanted to play "rugger" (i.e. the "rugby rules") a student replied "no, soccer", an abbreviation of "association", or the "association rules", i.e. the rules of the Football Association in London. As'soc'iation!

    "Footer" was also used, which is where the term football came from and is now widely used in the UK. (alot of people see the word 'soccer' as american, when really it was used before 'football')

    As for American Football, i'm not quite sure. It is played with the foot as well as the hands.... maybe 'handball' was already taken?!

    Comments

    • 'Soccer' can not have been used before 'football', as otherwise the Football As'soc'iation would not have been named so.

      The Leningrad Cowboy

      by The Leningrad Cowboy on January 14th, 2005

    • Rethink your answer Leningrad Cowboy. It's not being stated that the word 'soccer' came before 'football'...it's a reference to cultural linquistic tendencies at the time. So, 'Association Football/Rules' came first, and then the abbreviated 'Soccer'.

      pixelex

      by pixelex on June 9th, 2006

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