Referee
The word referee corresponds to an official who watches a match or game closely in order to ensure that the rules are adhered to and also to intervene and arbitrate on matters arising from the play.
Referee can also denote a person who is willing to testify in writing about someone’s character or ability, especially in job applications.
Origin
The word has been around since the 1620s. It was initially used to denote a “person who examines patent applications, but that sense of the word is largely obsolete now.
The word has been used synonymous to an umpire, meaning “one to whom any matter in question is referred for decision, since the 1660s.
Its usage in legal issues can be traced back to the 1680s, while the sporting use of the word, now most popular, is recorded only by the 1820s.
The usage of the word steadily increased from the second half of the 19th Century, but has reduced drastically since the second half of the 20th Century.
Usage
While football referees are never praised for having a good game, they are often vilified even if they get a few decisions in a game wrong.
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