football

n. An inflated ball to be kicked in sport, usually made in India rubber, or a bladder incased in Leather. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

The American football is an oblate spheroid, with pointed ends. In other countries, the football is the same as a soccer ball. The games played with the two different balls are different. In the United States, the game played with a soccer ball is called soccer. [ PJC ]

2. The game played with a football{ 1 }, by two opposing teams of players moving the ball between goals at opposite ends of a rectangular playing field. Outside the United States football refers to soccer, and in England, also to rugby, but in the United States the shape of the ball and the rules of the game are different. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

3. Soccer or rugby. [ Brit. ] [ PJC ]

4. [ fig. ] Something which is treated in a rough manner, usually as part of a dispute; as, a political football. [ PJC ]