topline

top +‎ line

topline (plural toplines)

1. The upper curvature of a horse's or dog's withers, back, and loin.
   • 2002, Ted S. Stashak, Ora Robert Adams, Adams' Lameness in Horses, page 75:

     When viewing the horse in profile, attention must be paid to the curvature and proportions of the topline.

2. (often attributive) Top billing.
   • 1969 July, Ebony, volume 24, number 9, page 146:

     In recent weeks Cosby has, perhaps more than any other topline entertainer of the moment, been both at the pinnacle and at the crossroads.

3. The edge that runs along the top of the opening of a shoe.

topline (third-person singular simple present toplines, present participle toplining, simple past and past participle toplined)

1. (transitive) To bill (a performer) as the primary entertainer in a production.
   • 1983, John Kobal, A History of Movie Musicals: Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance, page 147:

     A popular series of musical shorts he made for Mack Sennett's company in 1930 added to his success as a radio vocalist, and had made him a star by the end of 1931, when Paramount toplined him in The Big Broadcast […]

2. (transitive, intransitive) To be billed as the primary entertainer in (a production).
   • Variety

     [Whitney] Houston's success in music led her to topline the features "Waiting to Exhale," "The Preacher's Wife" and the telefilm "Cinderella."

   • 2006, Everett Aaker, Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters, page 418:

     Although occasionally he toplined in a “B” picture, he found his greatest achievements were as a character actor.

   • 2009, Robert Viagas, I'm the Greatest Star:

     Over the next few years he toplined three "Encores!" productions […]

• topliner

• pointel, pontile, potline