boxer

¹

[bok-ser]

noun

1. a person who fights as a sport, usually with gloved fists, according to set rules; prize-fighter; pugilist.

2. one of a German breed of medium-sized, stocky, short-haired, pug-faced dogs having a brindled or tan coat with white markings.

3. a person or thing that packs items into boxes. box.

4. boxers. boxer shorts.

Boxer

²

[bok-ser]

noun

1. a member of a Chinese secret society that carried on an unsuccessful uprising, 1898–1900 BoxerRebellion, principally against foreigners, culminating in a siege of foreign legations in Peking (now Beijing) that was put down by an international expeditionary force.

Boxer

¹

/ ˈbɒksə /

noun

1. 1. a member of a nationalistic Chinese secret society that led an unsuccessful rebellion in 1900 against foreign interests in China

   2. ( as modifier )

      the Boxer Rebellion

boxer

²

/ ˈbɒksə /

noun

1. a person who boxes, either professionally or as a hobby; pugilist

2. a medium-sized smooth-haired breed of dog with a short nose and a docked tail

Word History and Origins

Origin of boxer¹

First recorded in 1735–45; box ² + -er ¹

Origin of boxer²

First recorded in 1895–1900; translation of Chinese yìhé juǎn “Righteous Harmony Fist,” name of the militant policy of the yìhé tuán “Righteous Harmony Group”

Word History and Origins

Origin of boxer¹

C18: rough translation of Chinese I Ho Ch'üan , literally: virtuous harmonious fist, altered from I Ho T'uan virtuous harmonious society

Example Sentences

They were superb scenes as the former white-collar boxer continued his remarkable rise in the professional ranks.

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Several weeks have passed since then, and the superstitious interpreter still wears his lucky boxers on days Yamamoto pitches.

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As a child, the Bristol-born boxer's dad encouraged her and her sister to turn sibling squabbles into training in the ring.

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Tributes poured in from the sporting world following news of Hatton's death, with Amir Khan remembering him as "one of Britain's greatest boxers" and Tyson Fury saying he was a "legend".

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In a post to Instagram, Fisher's son - British heavyweight boxer Johnny Fisher - confirmed the personality would be flown home.

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Related Words

• fighter 
• prizefighter www.thesaurus.com