featherweight
[ feth-er-weyt ]
/ ˈfɛð ərˌweɪt /
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noun
a boxer or other contestant intermediate in weight between a bantamweight and a lightweight, especially a professional boxer weighing up to 126 pounds (57 kilograms).
an insignificant person or thing: He thinks he's a major composer, but he's just a featherweight.
adjective
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Words nearby featherweight
feather star, featherstitch, feather-tail glider, feather tract, feather-veined, featherweight, feathery, featly, feature, featured, feature-length
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for featherweight
featherweight
/ (ˈfɛðəˌweɪt) /
noun
- something very light or of little importance
- (as modifier)featherweight considerations
- a professional boxer weighing 118–126 pounds (53.5–57 kg)
- an amateur boxer weighing 54–57 kg (119–126 pounds)
- (as modifier)the featherweight challenger
a wrestler in a similar weight category (usually 126–139 pounds (57–63 kg))
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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