Definition: Boxing

From New World Encyclopedia

Etymology 1

From Middle English box (a blow; a stroke with a weapon); further origin uncertain, with relation to Proto-Germanic *boki-, whence Danish bask (a blow; a stripe), Danish baske (to flap, move around, beat violently), Middle Dutch boke (a blow, a hit), bƍken (to slap, strike, modern Dutch beuken (to slap)), West Frisian bĂ»kje, bĂ»tse, bĂ»tsje (to slap), West Frisian and Saterland Frisian batsje (to slap), Low German betschen (to slap, beat with a flat hand), Middle High German buc (a blow, a stroke), bochen (to slap, strike), and further onomatopoeic shaping. The verb is from Middle English boxen (to beat or whip (an animal)), which is derived from the noun.

Noun

boxing (uncountable)

  1. (sports) A sport where two opponents punch each other with gloved fists to head and torso; the object being to score more points by the end of the match or by knockout, or technical knockout.

Usage notes

This word is also used as the present participle of the word box, meaning to perform this sport.

Derived terms

  • kickboxing
  • shadow boxing

Related terms

  • box
  • boxer
  • boxing glove
  • boxing match
  • boxing ring

Etymology 2

From Middle English box (container, box, cup), from Old English box (box, case), from Proto-West Germanic *buhsā ‎(“box”‎) from Late Latin buxis ‎(“box”‎), Latin pyxis (small box for medicines or toiletries), of uncertain origin; compare Ancient Greek Ï€ÏÎŸÎżÏ‚ or pĂșxos (box or tablet made of boxwood; box; cylinder), and Ancient Greek Ï€Ï…ÎŸÎŻÏ‚ or puxĂ­s (box or tablet made of boxwood; box; cylinder).

Noun

boxing (plural boxings)

  1. Material used for making boxes or casing.
  2. (construction) Casing.
  3. (object-oriented programming) Automatic conversion of value types to objects by wrapping them within a heap-allocated reference type.

Usage notes

This word is also the present participal of the verb box, meaning to put something into a box.

Derived terms

Credits

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