This week’s theme
Words originating in the hand

This week’s words
palmate
two-fisted
pugilism
cack-handed
manuduction

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(PYOO-juh-liz-uhm)

MEANING:

noun: The hobby or sport of fighting with fists: boxing.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin pugil (boxer), from pugnare (to fight), from pugnus (fist). Ultimately from the Indo-European root peuk- (to prick), which also gave us point, puncture, pungent, punctual, poignant, pounce, poniard, oppugn, repugn, impugn, pugilist, repugnant, pugnacious, and propugnaculum. Earliest documented use: 1788.

NOTES:

We have outlawed cockfights. We don’t have gladiatorial contests any more. But we still have “sports” such as pugilism and American football. Apparently, these modern-day gladiators’ concussions and brain damage are a small price to pay for our recreation. The word that applies here, from the same root, is repugnant. See here and here.

USAGE:

“Scott Morrison is not a natural diplomat, preferring the pugilism of domestic politics over the international stage.”
Ben Packham; Joe Blow to Leave Lingering Bruise; The Australian (Canberra); Nov 2, 2021.

See more usage examples of pugilism in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: