gridiron

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɡɹɪdaɪən/

Etymology: From resembling the shape of a gridiron (a square rectilinear grid).

Any object resembling the rack or grate.
“Just north of Farringdon station, and to the east of Ray Street, there is a wide cutting bounded by another of those brick walls nicely calculated to be just too high for you to see over. So prop your bike against it, and stand on the down-pointing pedal crank. You are looking at the Ray Street Gridiron, a spectacular bridge in a cutting that carries the Metropolitan, the supposed Underground, over the Widened Lines (now Thameslink).”
An openwork frame on which vessels are placed for examination, cleaning, and repairs.
A raised framework from which lighting is suspended.
The field on which American football is played.
“They were quite close to him now, and crouching low, like tacklers on a gridiron. One of them raised his hand and lowered it, as though counting off seconds—one—two—three!”
American and Canadian football, particularly when used to distinguish from other codes of football.
“1995 October 3, Peter O′Shea, Sports: Out on the field, The Advocate, page 54, He represented Australia in this year′s rugby tour of England and is as well-known in Australia as any top gridiron player is in the United States.”
“So Jackie′s name became known far and wide as an exceptional gridiron player.”

Etymology: From resembling the shape of a gridiron (a square rectilinear grid).

To mark or cover with lines; to crisscross.
“This basin of Szechuan (literally "Four Streams," but which, reading the character idiographically, I should be inclined to render as "Gridironed by Streams"), […]”
“Another logical method is that of gridironing the field by a series of straight paths that are parallel to each other.”
To purchase land so that the remaining adjacent sections are smaller than the minimum area purchasable as freehold, thus excluding potential freeholders.