Toxophilite
/ˌtɒk.səˈfɪl.aɪt/noun
A person who is fond of or skilled in archery.
Did you know?Toxophilite was popularized in the title of Roger Ascham’s 1545 archery treatise, and its roots come from Greek toxon (“bow”) + philos (“loving”), the same ancient word-family behind “philosophy.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
τόξον (toxon)
“bow; later also associated with the idea of archery”
Ancient Greek
Greek
φίλος (philos)
“loving; dear; fond of”
16th Century
English
toxophilite
“a lover or practitioner of archery”
16th Century
English
Toxophilus
“Ascham’s archery treatise title, literally “lover of the bow””
Modern English
English
toxophilite
“a person fond of or skilled in archery”
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