The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

lateral \lat"er*al\, lateral pass \lat"er*al pass`\, n.
   (Football)
   1. A short pass to a receiver who is upfield from the passer,
      i.e. is behind the passer relative to the direction of the
      passer's goal.
      [PJC]

   2. A part or extension of something that points sideways, as
      a drift in a mine that goes to the side from the main one.
      [PJC]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

lateral pass
    n 1: a pass to a receiver upfield from the passer [syn: lateral
         pass, lateral]