pugilist
/ˈpjuːdʒɪlɪst
/noun dated or humorous
A boxer, especially a professional one.Remember that if he wasn't playing football, Hall would be a professional pugilist and probably a bloody good one given that he can knock a player down, even when he didn't mean to throw the punch!...
- When Sonny did embark on a comeback he went to Europe and reeled off a series of wins against some non-threatening pugilists.
- We were nine USA Olympic Champion pugilists competing in the 1960 Rome Olympic Games.
Synonyms
boxer, fighter, prizefighter, sparring partner
informal bruiser, pug
rare ringster
Derivatives
pugilistic
/ adjective ...- Buried in his pugilistic proclamation - in which he also declared war on ‘nonviolent civil disobedience’ - was a curious invitation.
- Her continued efforts at world pugilistic dominance recommence on Jan.16 in championships in Pointe Claire, where she'll be battling again to maintain her ranking.
- Political infighting rarely comes to real fisticuffs, but the Scottish Tories at their Dundee conference this weekend were clearly being inspired by pugilistic events going on at Hampden.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from Latin pugil 'boxer' + -ist.