savate

American  

[suh-vat] / səˈvæt /

noun

1. a sport resembling boxing but permitting blows to be delivered with the feet as well as the hands.

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savate British  

/ səˈvæt /

noun

1. a form of boxing in which blows may be delivered with the feet as well as the hands

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Etymology

Origin of savate

1860–65; < French: literally, old shoe. See sabot

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

savate

In addition to the French language lessons and other instruction he was given, Hassanzade was initiated into French boxing by a local social worker and savate coach, Bruno Cardoso.

From Time Magazine Archive

As for the savate, the canne, fencing, which all bring the wits into play as well as the muscles, they, even the last-named, are very little known or practiced in England.

From John Bull, Junior or French as She is Traduced by Max O'Rell

Why should the Frenchman call his wooden shoe a sabot and his old shoe a savate, both from the same root?

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 03, No. 16, February, 1859 by Various

Lessons in savate, which was practised especially by roughs, were usually given in some low resort, and there were no respectable teachers.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3 "Borgia, Lucrezia" to "Bradford, John" by Various

The "savate" as practised by the French boxer is the art of using the feet the same as the hands, and it is a means of offence not to be despised.

From Mlle. Fouchette A Novel of French Life by Charles Theodore Murray