Pugilist
/ˈpjuː.dʒɪ.lɪst/noun
A person who fights with the fists; a boxer.
Did you know?Pugilist comes from Latin pugil, “boxer,” from pugnus, “fist,” and shares a deep root with words about combat and striking, not magic — but the violence is very real.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peuk-
“to prick, stab, or strike”
Latin
Latin
pugnus
“fist”
Latin
Latin
pugil
“a boxer, fist-fighter”
Late Latin
Latin
pugilista
“a boxer”
17th Century
English
pugilist
“a boxer, especially a professional or prizefighter”
Explore more surprising origins