pugilistn.
/ˈpjuːdʒᵻlɪst/, U.S. /ˈpjudʒələst/ A practitioner of the art of boxing; a boxer, a fighter. Also figurative.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun] > boxer
buffeter1483
pugil1646
cuffer1662
boxer1672
pugilistc1740
setter-to1810
miller1812
sparrer1814
pet1825
pugilistic1827
slogger1829
fist-mate1834
peeler1852
pug1858
scrapper1874
slugger1877
slogster1881
basher1882
fisticuffer1888
ring man1899
ringster1902
pucker1919
c1740 in P. Egan Boxiana (1823) I. 44 Buckhorse, and several other Pugilists, will shew the Art of Boxing.
1790 T. Fewtrell (title) Boxing Reviewed... Comprehending a complete description of the Principal Pugilists.
1817 Analectic Mag. (Philadelphia) Nov. 388 The pugilist may safely venture to enter the ring, against equal strength and talents.
1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack viii. 48 He was an old pugilist himself, and he gave me a few directions which I did not forget.
1899 R. Munro Prehist. Scotl. vii. 238 One scene represents two pugilists with a crested helmet between them.
1928 Economica 23 142 Do we really want our banking system to be a mere passive punch-ball for the pugilists of industry and trade?
1936 Sun (Baltimore) 16 Mar. 3/3 He insisted his occupation was manager of prizefighters, but the arresting detectives failed to recognize the pugilists he mentioned.
2005 Courier Mail (Queensland, Austral.) (Nexis) 2 Dec. (Sports section) 14 Wilson..is an old-fashioned pugilist who does his talking in the ring.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c1740