(NEXSTAR) – Sure, it involves feet. But so does almost every other sport, to some extent.

Football, also known as American football or gridiron football, is the most popular spectator sport in the United States. But most of us probably couldn't tell you why it’s called “football” instead of, say, “tackleball” or “oblongball.”

And yes, there’s a kicker on every team whose job is to launch the ball through a set of goalposts with his foot, but that’s not where the name of the sport originated either.

The exact etymology of the word “football” is slightly unclear, but many historians say the term dates back to the........

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