redshirt

(slang) An unimportant character introduced only to be killed in order to underscore the peril to the important characters; an expendable character.

(US) A college athlete who spends a year not participating in official athletic activities, but does not lose his or her eligibility to participate in following years.

(historical) A supporter of the Italian nationalist leader Giuseppe Garibaldi, especially a member of his thousand-man army which conquered Sicily.

(historical) A revolutionary or anarchist.

(US) A person responsible for loading and unloading weapons, artillery, and equipment from aircraft.

(US) To place an athlete in a status wherein the athlete will spend a year not participating in official athletic activities, but will not lose his or her eligibility to participate in following years.

(US) To take on a status wherein one will spend a year not participating in official athletic activities.

(US) To hold a child out of kindergarten for one year in the hope that the child will do better academically and socially.