A penalty in football when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage and makes contact with an offensive player before the snap. This is a 5-yard penalty against the defense with an automatic first down.
From Old French 'encrochier' meaning 'to catch with a hook,' evolving to mean 'trespass' or 'intrude.' In football, it specifically refers to illegally intruding into the offensive side of the neutral zone.
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