noun
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- a high-school or college athlete kept out of varsity competition for one year to develop skills and extend eligibility.
- a child held back from starting kindergarten for one year, the practice of which is believed by some parents to give the child academic, athletic, and social advantages.
- a character in a TV show or movie who dies soon after being first introduced: She’s a redshirt who won’t make it to the next scene.
verb (used with object)
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- to withdraw (an athlete) from varsity competition for one year.
- to delay (a child) from starting kindergarten for one year: They redshirt their kids because they think it gives them a competitive edge.
- to quickly kill off (a character) in a TV show or movie: That guard is totally going to be redshirted in the next five minutes.
verb (used without object)
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- (of an athlete) to withdraw from varsity competition for one year: He redshirted in 2010, only to come back faster and stronger the following season.
- to delay a child from starting kindergarten for one year: Would you redshirt if your kid’s preschool teacher recommended it?
“to withdraw (a player) from the varsity team to add a year to his or her eligibility,” 1955, in reference to the red shirts worn by athletes on the scrimmage squad; from red (adj.1) + shirt (n.).