Definitions

1. noun

A person, especially a crew member, who wears a red shirt on television shows, especially science fiction, and is often the first to die in a dramatic scene.

“The redshirt character was killed in the first episode of the show.”

2. verb

To kill off a character, especially a minor one, in a dramatic or sensational way, often as a plot device.

“The writers redshirted a popular character to add shock value to the episode.”