crossplay

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Etymology 1

From cross- +‎ play.

Noun

crossplay (uncountable)

1. (engineering) The ability to record data with one device and play back the data on a different, compatible device.
   • 1993, Airborne Reconnaissance, volume 16, Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, →ISBN, page 52:

     The problem with the crossplay of plastic-based (Mylar) tape is that it's pliable; any difference in temperature or mechanical stress, induced by various transports, will distort track patterns recorded on the compliant tape.

2. (linguistics) Subordinate communication between participants in a conversation.
   • 2008, Yumiko Tateytama, Gabrielle Kasper, “Talking with a Classroom Guest”, in Eva Alcon Soler, Alicia Martinez-Flor, editors, Investigating Pragmatics in Foreign Language Learning, Teaching and Testing, Multilingual Matters, →ISBN, page 63:

     Although in all three events the requests were performed in front of and for the benefit of the student audience as intended bystanders, the crossplay observed in the guest-student episode was absent from the guest-teacher interactions.

3. (video games) Cross-platform multiplayer functionality.

Related terms

• (communication): byplay, sideplay

Etymology 2

Crossplay at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con.

Blend of cross-dressing +‎ cosplay

Noun

crossplay (uncountable)

1. (cosplay) A form of cosplay in which one dresses up as a character of the opposite sex.
   • 2001 May 22, Wednesday, “Re: 'There are only 500 REAL anime fans in the UK'”, in uk.media.animation.anime‎^[1] (Usenet), message-ID <-6y*A5OWo@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>:

     Incidentally, I'm not sure you're bucking the trend so much as going along with it; FTM crossplay is getting pretty popular, although you see more women going for bishounen and visual-kei genderfucky stars than anything else.

   • 2006, Theresa Winge, “Costuming the Imagination”, in Frenchy Lunning, editor, Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga, volume 1, University of Minnesota Press, →ISBN, page 71:

     Crossplay is where a cosplayer employs gender reversal (i.e., a female who dresses as a male character or vice versa).

   • 2014, Catherine Thomas, “'Love to Mess with Minds': En(gendering) Identities Through Crossplay”, in Ben Bolling, Matthew J. Smith, editors, It Happens at Comic-Con: Ethnographic Essays on a Pop Culture Phenomenon, McFarland, →ISBN, page 37:

     At CCI, where a large number of people cosplay, crossplay becomes a mode to "stand out."

Derived terms

• crossplayer

See also

• drag
• genderbending
• genderbender
• genderbend
• genderbent
• Rule 63

Verb

crossplay (third-person singular simple present crossplays, present participle crossplaying, simple past and past participle crossplayed)

1. (intransitive) To cosplay as a character of the opposite sex.
   • 2001 May 6, Lauren Michelle, “Site for 2001 AnimeNorth AFSM meeting?”, in alt.fan.sailor-moon‎^[2] (Usenet):

     [Replying to: "Really, I'll be wearing a costume as well...] Me too...but I won't be crossplaying...

2. (transitive) To cosplay as (a character of the opposite sex).
   • 2003 October 7, Vince Lamb, “Japanese Manga and Anime Take Over America from Pacific News Service”, in rec.arts.anime.misc‎^[3] (Usenet):

     BTW, one can be a touch hefty and pull off Urd. You don't even have to be a woman. A *guy* crossplayed Urd at C-Kon and won the cosplay contest!

3. (intransitive) To roleplay as a character of the opposite sex, especially in a MUD.
   • 1992 May 26, Scott Goehring, “cross-gendered players”, in rec.games.mud‎^[4] (Usenet):

     Admittedly, BruceMud attracted more than its usual share of weenies, but as a female wizard I received even more attention for being female than I did on most other sites. Note that it wasn't exactly a secret that I was crossplaying. I seem to recall Random bitching at Julia for reporting that I was female on more than one occasion.