fletch

A modification of fledge (“to acquire feathers”) due to the influence of fletcher (“arrow-maker”). Compare flèche.

(archery) The vane toward the back of an arrow, used to stabilise the arrow during flight.


assault

en-noun

assault (countable and uncountable, plural assaults)

From Middle English assaut, from Old French noun assaut, derived from the past participle of the verb assalir, from Late Latin assalīre, from Latin ad (“at, towards”) + salīre (“jump”). See also assail. Spelling Latinized around 1530 to add an l.

(fencing) A non-competitive combat between two fencers.


extension

extension (countable and uncountable, plural extensions)

From Middle English extensioun, from Old French estension, from Latin extensiō, extensiōnem.

(fencing) A simple offensive action, consisting of extending the weapon arm forward.

ojennus

fencing: a simple offensive action, consisting of extending the weapon arm forward


feint

The noun is borrowed from French feinte (“dummy, feint”), from feindre (“to fake, feign”), from Old French feindre, faindre, from Latin fingere, the present active infinitive of fingō (“to alter the truth to deceive, dissemble, feign, pretend; to fashion, form, shape”).
The verb is derived from the noun.
Cognates
* Italian finta
* Occitan fencha, fenha
* Old Spanish finta (modern Spanish finta (“dummy, feint”))

He had some advantage in the difference of our weapons; for his sword, as I recollect, was longer than mine, […] His obvious malignity of purpose never for a moment threw him off his guard, and he exhausted every feint and strategem proper to the science of defence; while, at the same time, he mediated the most desperate catastrophe to our rencounter.

1817 December 31 (indicated as 1818), [Walter Scott], chapter XII, in Rob Roy. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, pages 251–252:

It is also possible to deliver a compound riposte by using an indirect feint. The attacking fencer would be open to a compound riposte following a successful parry by their opponent.

1999, Allan Skipp, “Key Techniques”, in Handbook of Foil Fencing, Armley, Leeds: Coachwise Business Solutions for British Fencing, published 2006, →ISBN, page 36:

(boxing, fencing) A blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack on some part of the body, intended to distract from a real attack on another part.

klamný pohyb

(boxing, fencing) offensive movement resembling an attack on some part of the body, intended to distract from a real attack on another part


feint

en-verb

feint (third-person singular simple present feints, present participle feinting, simple past and past participle feinted)

feints (present singular third-person)
feinting (participle present)
feinted (participle past)
feinted (past)

Genevra scowled and said, "His word is wild, / But dastard treason feinteth such disorders: / Treason or witchcraft neither, undefiled, / A Christian court may cherish in its borders."

1882, T. Alderson Wilson, “Lanval”, in Perseus and Other Essays in Verse, London: Ranken and Co., […], →OCLC, page 74:

Even Penrod's walk was affected; he adopted a gait which was a kind of taunting swagger; and, when he passed other children on the street, he practised the habit of feinting a blow; then, as the victim dodged, he rasped out the triumphant horse laugh which he gradually mastered to horrible perfection.

1914, Booth Tarkington, “The Imitator”, in Penrod, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, →OCLC, page 231:

I spurred on the Turani instead of pulling him in, and stood up in the saddle just as we came upon the two. By feinting a slash at one I made him throw up his saber to guard his head. Then, leaning down as the three ponies came together, I cut at the other's neck, getting home over his blade. His mount reared and shelled him out of the saddle like a pea out of a pod.

1924 October 10, Harold Lamb, “Forward”, in Arthur Sullivant Hoffman, editor, Adventure, volume XLIX, number I, New York, N.Y., London: The Ridgway Company, →OCLC, page 25, column 1:

To direct (a blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack) on some part of the body, intended to distract from a real attack on another part.

tehdä harhautusliike

to direct (a blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack) on some part of the body, intended to distract from a real attack on another part

Feint him—use your legs! draw him about! he'll lose his wind then in no time, and you can go into him.

1857, [Thomas Hughes], “The Fight”, in Tom Brown’s School Days. […], Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Macmillan & Co., →OCLC, part II, page 323:

(rare) To direct a feint or mock attack against (someone).

tehdä valehyökkäys

to direct a feint or mock attack against (someone or something)

Ben-Hur feinted with his right hand. The stranger warded, slightly advancing his left arm. Ere he could return to guard, Ben-Hur caught him by the wrist in a grip which years at the oar had made terrible as a vise.

1880 November 12, Lew[is] Wallace, chapter XVI, in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, book fifth, page 387:

My assailant stood a little; in the thick darkness I could see him bob and sidle as though he were feinting at me for an advantageous onfall.

1893–1897 (date written), Robert Louis Stevenson, “Swanston Cottage”, in St. Ives: Being the Adventures of a French Prisoner in England, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, published 1897, →OCLC, page 67:

Gomez feinted with his knife and the other man darted backward. He feinted again and the man moved to the side. The man feinted but Gomez didn't budge; he was anxious to get it on.

1984, Len Levinson, chapter 3, in Meat Grinder Hill (The Rat Bastards; 4), [San Francisco, Calif.]: AudioGO, published 2013, →ISBN:

(intransitive, boxing, fencing, also often military) To make a feint or mock attack.


feint

Borrowed from French feint, the past participle of feindre (“to fake, feign”): see etymology 1.

(boxing, fencing, also often military) Of an attack or offensive movement: directed toward a different part from the intended strike.

harhautus-

of an attack or offensive movement: directed toward a different part from the intended strike


invitation

en-noun

invitation (countable and uncountable, plural invitations)

From Middle English invitacioun, ynvytacioun, from Latin invītātio, reinforced by Middle French invitation. Displaced native Middle English lathinge from Old English laþung (see dialectal English lathing).

(fencing) A line that is intentionally left open to encourage the opponent to attack.


reach

From Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣċan (“to reach”), from Proto-West Germanic *raikijan, from Proto-Germanic *raikijaną, from the Proto-Indo-European *Hreyǵ- (“to bind, reach”).

der

(boxing) The distance a boxer's arm can extend to land a blow.

ulottuvuus

boxing: distance a boxer's arm can extend


waster

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-waster.wav

Or, as they that play at wasters exercise themselves by a few cudgels how to avoid an enemy's blows, let us arm ourselves against all such violent incursions which may invade our minds.

1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 3, member 6:

(obsolete, chiefly fencing) A kind of cudgel; also, a blunt-edged sword used as a foil.


feud

Oxford English Dictionary
Survey of English Dialects

Inherited from Northern Middle English fede, feide, from Old French faide, feide, fede, from Proto-West Germanic *faihiþu (“hatred, enmity”) (corresponding to foe + -th), from Proto-Indo-European *peyḱ- (“hostile”).
Cognate to Old English fǣhþ, fǣhþu, fǣhþo (“hostility, enmity, violence, revenge, vendetta”), German Fehde, and Dutch vete (“feud”) (directly inherited from Proto-West Germanic) alongside Danish fejde (“feud, enmity, hostility, war”) and Swedish fejd (“feud, controversy, quarrel, strife”) (borrowed from Middle Low German).

der

professional wrestling
professional wrestling

(professional wrestling) A staged rivalry between wrestlers.


debole

From Italian debole, meaning "weak", equivalent to the French foible.

There are two parts to the sword: the forte and the debole. The forte begins from the hilt, extending as far as the middle of the blade; and the remainder is called the debole. The forte is for parrying, and the debole for striking. This is really important because: if you always keep your forte in the way of the opponent's debole, you will never be hit.

(fencing) The flexible part of the blade near the tip of light swords such as rapiers.


mount

From Middle English mounten, from Anglo-Norman munter, from Vulgar Latin *montāre (“climb”), from Latin montem (“mountain”). Compare modern French monter.

(martial arts) A dominant ground grappling position, where one combatant sits on the other combatants torso with the face pointing towards the opponent's head.


mount

en-verb

mount (third-person singular simple present mounts, present participle mounting, simple past and past participle mounted)

mounts (present singular third-person)
mounting (participle present)
mounted (participle past)
mounted (past)

(transitive, martial arts) To sit on a combatant's torso with the face pointing towards the opponent's head; to assume the mount position in ground grappling.


stable

From Middle English stable, borrowed from Anglo-Norman stable, singular derived from the plural Latin stab(u)la (“dwellings, stables”).

close the stable door after the horse has been stolen

close the stable door after the horse has bolted

lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen

lock the stable door after the horse has bolted

shut the stable door after the horse has bolted

(sumo) An organization of sumo wrestlers who live and train together.

Paul, who signed with WWE in late June, appeared in a segment with Reigns' stable, the Bloodline, on Friday's episode of SmackDown after making comments earlier in the week regarding a potential match with the Tribal Chief.

2022 September 17, Thomas Kika, “WWE's Logan Paul Confronts Roman Reigns Amid Rumors of Major Title Bout”, in Newsweek:

(professional wrestling) A group of wrestlers who support each other within a wrestling storyline.


drum

Perhaps back-formation from drumslade (“drummer”), from Middle Dutch trommelslach (“drumbeat”), from trommel (“drum”) + slach (“beat”) (Dutch slag).
Or perhaps borrowed directly from a continental Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch tromme (“drum”), Middle Low German trumme (“drum”) et al. Compare also Middle High German trumme, trumbe (“drum”), Old High German trumba (“trumpet”).


corner

→ German: Corner

→ Japanese: コーナー (kōnā)

From Middle English corner, from Anglo-Norman cornere (compare Old French cornier, corniere (“corner”)), from Old French corne (“corner, angle”, literally “a horn, projecting point”), from Vulgar Latin *corna (“horn”), from Latin cornua, plural of cornū (“projecting point, end, horn”). The sense of "angle, corner" in Old French is not found in Latin or other Romance languages. It was possibly calqued from Frankish *hurnijā (“corner, angle”), which is similar to, and derived from *hurn, the Frankish word for "horn". Displaced native cognate Middle English hirn, herne, from Old English hyrne, from Proto-Germanic *hurnijǭ (“little horn, hook, angle, corner”), whence modern English hirn (“nook, corner”), itself related to horn.

nurkka

business: interest that is sufficient for price manipulation

(heading) Relating to the playing field.

(boxing) The corner of the ring, which is where the boxer rests before and during a fight.

(boxing, by extension) The group of people who assist a boxer during a bout.


strip

Brill Publishers
en:strip (disambiguation)

From alteration of stripe or from Middle Low German strippe, of uncertain ultimate origin, perhaps derived from a lost strong verb Proto-Germanic *strīpaną, with no clear cognates outside of Germanic except for Irish sríab (“line, stripe”).

(fencing) The playing area, roughly 14 meters by 2 meters.


valet

Borrowed from Middle French valet, from Old French vaslet, from Medieval Latin *vassellittus, diminutive of Late Latin vassallus (“manservant, domestic, retainer”), from vassus (“servant”), from Gaulish *wassos (“young man, squire”), from Proto-Celtic *wastos (“servant”) (compare Old Irish foss and Welsh gwas).

der

(professional wrestling) A female performer in professional wrestling, acting as either a manager or personal chaperone; often used to attract and titillate male members of the audience.

خادمَة

a female performer in professional wrestling


passé

From French passé (“passed”, past participle of passer (“to pass”)).

bor

(fencing) An attack that passes the target without hitting.


hyper

Mason of Blencogo was a strong fellow, with no great science or action, and how he disposed of Nichol of Bothel, who was one of the best hypers of the day, puzzled not a few.

1868, The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Review:


fistmele

From fist + mele, variant of meal (“measure”), from Old English mæl.

(archery) A traditional unit of distance equal to the width of a clenched fist with the thumb extended (approx. 6½ inches or 16½ centimetres).


malparry

(fencing) A parry that insufficiently removes the incoming blade from the target area.


touché

Borrowed from French touché, past participle of toucher (“to touch”). More at touch.


walkover

(boxing) A match whose winner is declared because the other boxer does not appear in the ring within one minute of the official time.


counter

From Old French contre, Anglo-Norman cuntre, both from Latin contra.

[ˈkʰaʊ̯.ɾ̃ɚ]

Always know a counter to any hold you try against your opponent.

(martial arts) A proactive defensive hold or move in reaction to a hold or move by one's opponent.

vastaliike

martial arts: proactive defensive hold or move in reaction to one's opponent


counter

en-verb

counter (third-person singular simple present counters, present participle countering, simple past and past participle countered)

counters (present singular third-person)
countering (participle present)
countered (participle past)
countered (past)

[ˈkʰaʊ̯.ɾ̃ɚ]

His left hand countered provokingly.

1857, Charles Kingsley, “(please specify the page)”, in Two Years Ago, volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC:

(boxing) To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing.

vastata

boxing: to return a blow while receiving one


freestyle

en-noun

freestyle (countable and uncountable, plural freestyles)

自由式

(sports) A sports event where competitors can choose their own method of participation.

(wrestling) A style of wrestling in which any non-injurious holds are permitted.


pin down

en-verb

pin down (third-person singular simple present pins down, present participle pinning down, simple past and past participle pinned down)

pins down (present singular third-person)
pinning down (participle present)
pinned down (participle past)
pinned down (past)

(wrestling) To hold the opponent back-first so both his or her shoulders touch the mat or ground.


schoolgirl

schoolgirl (third-person singular simple present schoolgirls, present participle schoolgirling, simple past and past participle schoolgirled)

schoolgirls (present singular third-person)
schoolgirling (participle present)
schoolgirled (participle past)
schoolgirled (past)

Victoria & Nidia beat Stratus & Kim in 3:45 when Victoria schoolgirled Kim.

2004, Wrestling Observer Newsletter, page 57:

She tags herself in only to get schoolgirled for the pin.

2017, James Dixon, Arnold Furious, Bob Dahlstrom, The Raw Files: 2001, page 121:

(transitive, wrestling, rare) To restrain in a schoolgirl pin.


wrestler

From Middle English wrastlere, equivalent to wrestle + -er.

it isn't easy to avoid all the wrestler's holds.

2005, Plato, translated by Lesley Brown, Sophist, page 231c:


submit

submit (third-person singular simple present submits, present participle submitting, simple past and past participle submitted)

submits (present singular third-person)
submitting (participle present)
submitted (participle past)
submitted (past)

From Middle English submitten, borrowed from Latin submittere, infinitive of submittō (“place under, yield”), from sub (“under, from below, up”) + mitto (“to send”). Compare upsend.

"[Ronda] Rousey, a former U.S. Olympian in Judo, caps off a perfect year in which she submitted Liz Carmouche in the first-ever UFC female fight and coached opposite [Miesha] Tate in "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series."

Okamoto, Brett (2013 December 28) “Ronda Rousey wins with arm bar”, in ESPN.com, retrieved 2014-01-06

It was also the first time Goldberg has been submitted, enhancing Reigns even more than he already has been over the last two years.

Beaston, Erik (2022 February 19) “WWE Elimination Chamber 2022 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights”, in Bleacher Report, retrieved 2022-02-22

(transitive, mixed martial arts, professional wrestling) To win a fight against (an opponent) by submission.


glide

From Middle English gliden, from Old English glīdan, from Proto-West Germanic *glīdan, from Proto-Germanic *glīdaną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰleydʰ-.
Cognate with West Frisian glide, glydzje, Low German glieden, Dutch glijden, German gleiten, Norwegian Nynorsk gli, Danish glide, Swedish glida, Finnish liitää.

(fencing) An attack or preparatory movement made by sliding down the opponent’s blade, keeping it in constant contact.


peekaboo

peekaboo boxing

a peekaboo guard

(boxing) Being or using a style of boxing with the hands kept close to the face to defend it.


engagement

en-noun

engagement (countable and uncountable, plural engagements)

After engagement it quickly became clear which of the fencers was going to prevail.

(fencing, countable) The point at which the fencers are close enough to join blades, or to make an effective attack during an encounter.


barrage

Unadapted borrowing from French barrage (“barrage, barrier”) c. 1859. Compare barrier.

ubor

(fencing) A "next hit wins" contest to determine the winner of a bout in case of a tie.


bear hug

(wrestling) A hold with the arms around the opponent.


set up

en-verb

set up (third-person singular simple present sets up, present participle setting up, simple past and past participle set up)

sets up (present singular third-person)
setting up (participle present)
set up (participle past)
set up (past)

When you make an opening you merely cause an opponent to uncover a target somewhere on his person. But when you set up an opponent, you knock him off balance with one punch so that he should be an open target for a following punch. Unless he's knocked off balance, he's not set up.

1950, Jack Dempsey, chapter 23, in Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense:

Writer Danny Wamboldt of Ring magazine said, "Only Willie knew how to set up his opponents masterfully and then move in." Wamboldt, a former New England bantamweight champion and current national president of the Veteran Boxers Association, said that one of Pep's opponents said of his dazzling speed: "It was the first time he had been surrounded by one man."

1997 September 24, Joe Duffy, “TRIBUTES TO THE MAN AND THE BOXER”, in Hartford Courant:

(boxing) To deceive an opponent and capitalize on their reactions with a certain technique or maneuver.


setup

The jab is most commonly used as a setup for other strikes.

(boxing) A move or set of moves which are meant to draw out a reaction which leaves an exploitable opening in defense.


displacement

From French déplacement. Morphologically displace + -ment.

водоизместимост

the quantity of anything, as water, displaced by a floating body, as by a ship

there is no replacement for displacement

(fencing) Moving the target to avoid an attack; dodging.


flick

→ Afrikaans: fliek

From Middle English flykke (“light blow or stroke”). Later uses apparently interpreted as a back-formation from flicker.
The use of flick to mean a film or movie derives from the fact that early films had a low frame rate, thus causing the film to "flick" rapidly when projected onto a screen.

inh

(fencing) A cut that lands with the point, often involving a whip of the foible of the blade to strike at a concealed target.

flikki

a cut that lands with the point (fencing)


technical knockout

en-noun

technical knockout (plural technical knockouts)

(martial arts) A knockout declared by a referee in cases where a participant is sufficiently injured, unbalanced, or confused and unable to continue the fight


sit out

en-verb

sit out (third-person singular simple present sits out, present participle sitting out, simple past and past participle sat out)

sits out (present singular third-person)
sitting out (participle present)
sat out (participle past)
sat out (past)

(wrestling) To escape a hold while face down by swinging one's legs around into the sitting position.


catch-as-catch-can

In Lancashire and the north of Ireland, the catch-hold or catch-as-catch-can system still finds favour.

1980, Walter Armstrong, Wrestling, page x:

(wrestling) Relating to catch wrestling, a form of amateur freestyle wrestling.


chancery

en-noun

chancery (countable and uncountable, plural chanceries)

/ˈt͡ʃɑːnsəɹɪ/

/ˈt͡ʃænsəɹɪ/

/ˈt͡ʃɑːnsəɹi/

From French chancellerie, from Late Latin cancellaria, from Latin cancellarius, from Latin cancellus (“lattice”) (English chancel), from Latin cancelli (“grating, bars”), from the lattice-work that separated a section of a church or court.
See related chancellor and chancellery, and the more distantly related incarcerate (“put behind bars”), from carcer (“prison”).
The adverbial form is an allusion to the condition of a person involved in the chancery court.

The Chicken himself attributed this punishment to his having had the misfortune to get into Chancery early in the proceedings, when he was severely fibbed by the Larkey one, and heavily grassed.

1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:

(boxing, slang) The position of a boxer's head when under his adversary's arm.


chancery

/ˈt͡ʃɑːnsəɹɪ/

/ˈt͡ʃænsəɹɪ/

/ˈt͡ʃɑːnsəɹi/

[Round] 9. This was a scientific round on both sides; Acton got away well; and also parried some tremendous blows. The latter, however, received a chancery nobber; but he contended every inch of ground till he went down.

1823 May 14, “Sporting Intelligence”, in The Literary Humbug, number 1, page 15, Between Peter Crawley and Dick Acton:

15th round. Chancery. Fibbing. Biggs makes dreadful work with his left. Break away. Rally. Biggs down. Betting still six to four on the gown-boy.

1852, William Makepeace Thackeray, “The Fight at Slaughter House”, in Men's Wives, page 17:

(boxing) With the head of an antagonist under one's arm, so that one can pommel it with the other fist at will.


give in

en-verb

give in (third-person singular simple present gives in, present participle giving in, simple past gave in, past participle given in)

gives in (present singular third-person)
giving in (participle present)
gave in (past)
given in (participle past)

(boxing, of a pugilist) To droop the head.


ninjutsu

(martial arts) A Japanese martial art that is a collection of techniques originally practiced for Japanese espionage purposes, and includes methods of gathering information, nondetection, avoidance, and misdirection techniques. Used by ninja (忍者).


tights

→ Japanese: タイツ (taitsu)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-tights.wav

(wrestling) A garment, similar to briefs, worn chiefly by professional wrestlers.


breakaway

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-breakaway.wav

2011, Colleen Aycock and Mark Scott (eds.), The First Black Boxing Champions: Essays on Fighters of the 1800s to the 1920s, Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., Appendix: The Great Fights, George Dixon vs. Jack Skelly (September 6, 1892), p. 262,
The gong sounded almost immediately after the breakaway.

(boxing) The act of getting away from one's opponent; the separation of the boxers after a spell of infighting.


tiller

From Middle English teler, from Anglo-Norman telier (“beam used in weaving”), from Medieval Latin telarium, from Latin tēla (“web”).

der

You can shoot in a tiller.

c. 1608–1610, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “Philaster: Or, Love Lies a Bleeding”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, →OCLC, Act II, scene ii:

(archery) The stock; a beam on a crossbow carved to fit the arrow, or the point of balance in a longbow.


KO

Initialism of knock out.
Initialism of kick-off.


KO

en-verb

KO (third-person singular simple present KOs or KO's, present participle KOing or KO'ing, simple past and past participle KOed or KO'd)

KOs (present singular third-person)
KO's (present singular third-person)
KOing (participle present)
KO'ing (participle present)
KOed (participle past)
KOed (past)
KO'd (participle past)
KO'd (past)

Joe KO'd the opposing boxer.

(transitive, boxing) To knock someone out, to render someone unconscious.


bowman

From Middle English boweman, bouman, boughman, equivalent to bow + -man.

The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 4:29:

(archery) A man who uses a bow; an archer.


RSC

en-noun

RSC (countable and uncountable, plural RSCs)

(boxing) Initialism of referee stops the contest.


heavyweight

(uncountable, boxing) The professional boxing weight class for boxers weighing more than 190 pounds; a boxer in that division.


shadowbox

en-verb

shadowbox (third-person singular simple present shadowboxes, present participle shadowboxing, simple past and past participle shadowboxed)

shadowboxes (present singular third-person)
shadowboxing (participle present)
shadowboxed (participle past)
shadowboxed (past)

He was shadowboxing to keep fit and practice before the big fight.

The fighter starts to shadowbox in front of them.

1975, Stephen Dunning, Literature for Adolescents, page 392:

McAfferty giggled, then stepped back and shadowboxed, jabbing the air with his little fists.

He shadowboxed harder than anyone I had seen before, and I soon developed that habit, too.

2018, Glen Sharp, Punching from the Shadows, page 117:

(boxing, martial arts) To practice moves without an actual opponent, often in front of a mirror.


parry

From earlier parree, from Middle English *parree, *paree, from Old French paree (“preparation, ceremony, parade”), from Medieval Latin parāta (“preparation, parade”), from parāre (“to ward off, guard, defend, prepare, get ready”). More at pare. The English verb is taken from the noun. Doublet of parade.
Alternative etymology derives the verb parry from French parez, the imperative form of parer (“to fend off”), ultimately from the Medieval Latin parāre. See above.

der

(fencing) A simple defensive action designed to deflect an attack, performed with the forte of the blade.

пари́рање

in fencing, simple defensive action designed to deflect


clinch

→ Czech: klinč

→ German: Clinch

→ French: clinch

→ Portuguese: clinche

→ Russian: клинч (klinč)

→ Serbo-Croatian: klȉnč

→ Polish: klincz

→ Swedish: klinch

(wrestling, combat sports) The act of one or both fighters holding onto the other to prevent being hit or engage in standup grappling.


luchador

en-noun

luchador (plural luchadors or luchadores)

(professional wrestling) A Mexican professional wrestler, frequently (but not always) masked.


mawashi

From Japanese 廻し or 回し (mawashi), same meaning.

(sumo) The belt worn by rikishi during training and in competition


martingale

From Middle French martingale, from Occitan martegalo, feminine form of martegal, an inhabitant of Martigues, which is from Latin maritima. Alternatively from Spanish almártaga.
The meaning in gambling may come from an old usage of "à la martingale" to mean absurdly, foolishly.https://people.math.harvard.edu/~ctm/home/text/class/sem/html/home/notes/martingales/martingales.pdf

(fencing) A strap attached to the sword handle, preventing a sword being dropped if disarmed.


nelson

Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Nelson (cricket)
Nelson hold

Cricket sense: origin disputed; supposedly from the belief that Lord Nelson had one eye, one arm and one leg.
Wrestling sense: Back-formation from full nelson.

(wrestling) A wrestling hold in which a wrestler's arm is locked behind their back.


palooka

H. L. Mencken
Ham Fisher
Joe Palooka
The American Language

Used in the US since the 1920s, originally primarily of boxers. Popularized by Jack Conway of Variety, who also popularized baloney and bimbo. Further popularized by Ham Fisher in his comic strip Joe Palooka about a boxer (published in newspapers since 1930, particularly popular in 1940s).

unk

Used

But [Jack] Dempsey against some palooka who had been press agented into greatness and into the form of a Dempsey menace — that would pack any outdoor arena.

Butch: Lookin' at somethin', friend?
Vincent: I ain't your friend, palooka.

1994, Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary, Pulp Fiction:

(US, boxing, bridge, etc) Someone incompetent or untalented.


corkscrew

[…] the immovable McCoy let fly his most miraculous punch of the evening, of his lives, a world-beater of a right corkscrew, a punch years in the windup […]

2002, Darin Strauss, The Real McCoy, →ISBN, page 42:

(boxing, martial arts) A type of sharp, twisting punch, often one thrown close and from the side.

コークスクリュー

boxing, martial arts: a type of sharp, twisting punch


no contest

Calque of Latin nolō contendere (“I don't want to contest”).

cal

(boxing, historical) The result of a boxing bout, promoted as an exhibition when the sport of boxing was illegal, when a knockout did not occur.

(boxing) A bout that the referee cancels early, either due to a serious injury early in the fight or due to a lack of action


sprawl

en-verb

sprawl (third-person singular simple present sprawls, present participle sprawling, simple past and past participle sprawled)

sprawls (present singular third-person)
sprawling (participle present)
sprawled (participle past)
sprawled (past)

From Middle English spraulen, from Old English spreawlian, ultimately through a Proto-Germanic form cognate with *spreutaną (“to sprout”) from Proto-Indo-European *sper- (“to strew”). Compare North Frisian spraweli.

(wrestling, martial arts) To scoot the legs backwards, so as to land on the upper back of an opponent attempting a takedown.


sprawl

en-noun

sprawl (countable and uncountable, plural sprawls)

(wrestling, martial arts) A defensive technique that is done in response to certain takedown attempts, where one scoots the legs backwards so as to land on the upper back of the opponent.


septime

(fencing) The seventh defensive position, with the sword hand held at waist height, and the tip of the sword at knee level.


sleeper

(martial arts, wrestling) A sleeper hold.


cadence

cadence (countable and uncountable, plural cadences)

Borrowed from Middle French cadence, from Old Italian cadenza (“conclusion of a phrase of music”), from Latin *cadentia (literally “a falling”), form of cadēns, the present participle of cadō (“I fall, I cease”). The Latin verb is inherited, via Proto-Italic *kadō, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱad-e- (“to fall”, thematic present). Doublet of cadenza and chance.

der

(fencing) The rhythm and sequence of a series of actions.

rytmi

(fencing) series of actions’ rhythm and sequence


sharpshooter

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-sharpshooter.wav

sharp + shooter, a calque of German Scharfschütze.

(professional wrestling) A submission hold characterized by one wrestler twisting the other's legs upwards while sitting on their back.


takedown

Takedown (grappling) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

(martial arts) A taking down: an act of bringing one's opponent to the ground by grabbing one or both legs and applying a rearward bending moment.


welter-weight

Originally “heavyweight horseman” (1832), from welter (“heavyweight horseman”) + weight. Boxing sense 1896.

compound

(boxing) between lightweight and middleweight


welter-weight

(boxing) a boxer weighing more than a lightweight boxer and less than a middleweight boxer; someone boxing in the welterweight class


uke

From Japanese 受け (uke), derived from the verb 受ける (ukeru, “to receive, to get”).

(judo, martial arts) The training partner against whom tori performs a move.


isu

(sumo) An individual seat in the loft-like balcony of a sumo arena.


riser

From Middle English ryser, risere, equivalent to rise + -er.


heya

(sumo) the so-called "stable" of rikishi who train under the instruction of a particular shisho; the place where this group lives and trains


suplex

Perhaps related to the suplay of classical wrestling, if not further inspired by super; also see -ex. Another explanation could be from sub + plecto, (meaning essentially I turn, twist, combine, or "braid" from under) which could ultimately reduce into English as suplex due to it being a novel innovation.

(professional wrestling) A wrestling move in which the wrestler picks up their opponent off the ground (or mat) and then, using a large portion of their own body weight, drives the opponent down on the mat by throwing them over their center of gravity, usually arching their back.


suplex

en-verb

suplex (third-person singular simple present suplexes, present participle suplexing, simple past and past participle suplexed)

suplexes (present singular third-person)
suplexing (participle present)
suplexed (participle past)
suplexed (past)

(transitive, professional wrestling) To subject to this manoeuvre.


anklelock

(wrestling) A hold in professional wrestling, a leglock applied to any of the joints in the ankle.


riposte

From French riposte, taken from Italian risposta, a derivative of the verb rispondere (“to respond”).

(fencing) A thrust given in return after parrying an attack.


riposte

riposte (third-person singular simple present ripostes, present participle riposting, simple past and past participle riposted)

ripostes (present singular third-person)
riposting (participle present)
riposted (participle past)
riposted (past)

(fencing) To attempt to hit an opponent after parrying an attack.

ripostera

fencing: to attempt to hit an opponent after parrying an attack


ripost

(fencing) A thrust given in return after parrying a lunge.


tweener

Undoubtedly, his record versus welterweights (147 pounds) is better than against full-blown middleweights (160 pounds). Being a tweener, Graziano probably would have campaigned as a junior middleweight (154 pounds) if he fought today.

2023, Rod Honecker, Brick City Grudge Match: Tony Zale and Rocky Graziano Battle in Newark, 1948, Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, →ISBN, page 146:

(informal) A person or thing that is between two categories, classes or age groups.

(boxing) A boxer in various newcomer weight classes whose names often contain super, light or junior.

There are old-school wrestlers, submission wrestlers, hardcore wrestlers, hillbilly wrestlers, masked Mexican lucha libre wrestlers, shoot wrestlers, and wrestlers who just talk a lot and never actually wrestle. There are babyfaces (good guys), heels (bad guys), ’tweeners, and crossovers.

2006, Thomas Hackett, Slaphappy: Pride, Prejudice, and Professional Wrestling, New York, NY: HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 21:

When Crockett hit TBS, [Ric] Flair was a babyface within its territory, but a heel in the areas he visited as champion, so it compromised, and on TBS, he became a “tweener” who took on all comers.

2015 May, David Bixenspan, “The Real World Champion”, in Fighting Spirit Magazine, number 118, Bournemouth: Uncooked Media Ltd, →ISSN, page 53:

professional wrestler
professional wrestler

(professional wrestling, slang) A professional wrestler who is neutral or morally ambiguous; neither a face nor a heel, or showing no favoritism to either allegiance.


cauliflower ear

en-noun

cauliflower ear (plural cauliflower ears)

A huge man with a notable cauliflower ear was peering into the car, a scowl of suspicion upon his face.

1928 February 25 – March 3, Arthur Conan Doyle, “When the World Screamed”, in The Professor Challenger Stories […], London: John Murray, […], published [1952], →OCLC, page 560:

Having gone in a lot for boxing from his earliest years, he had the cauliflower ear of which I had spoken to Aunt Dahlia and in addition to this a nose which some hidden hand had knocked slightly out of the straight.

1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter III, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:

(boxing, wrestling, sports) An ear swollen and deformed by repeated blows, common among boxers and rugby players.


popinjay

/ˈpɑpənˌd͡ʒeɪ/

From Middle English popinjay, popyngeay, popingay, popejay, from Anglo-Norman papegai, papejoie et al., (northern) Old French papejai (“parrot”), probably from Old Occitan papagay (compare Occitan papagai, Catalan papagai), ultimately from Arabic بَبْغَاء (babḡāʔ, “parrot”), of imitative origin.

(archery) A target to shoot at, typically stuffed with feathers or plumage.


kisser

(archery) A button on a bowstring that indicates consistent height when drawing a bow, for example by being placed against the archer's mouth .


kesho-mawashi

Borrowed from Japanese 化粧廻し (“ornamental belt”).

(sumo) A decorative mawashi worn by a sekitori during the ring-entering ceremony.


yokozuna

From Japanese 横綱(よこづな) (yokozuna, “wide rope”), the symbol of their rank worn about the waist.

A yokozuna is the very highest rank in sumo – “just like Mameha's position in Gion,” as Nobu explained it to me. I had no reason to doubt him; but if Mameha ever took half as much time entering a party as these yokozuna took entering the ring, she'd certainly never be invited back.

1997, Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha, Vintage, page 202:

(sumo) The highest rank of sumo wrestler, above ozeki; grand champion.

What mattered most was that, from the very top of the Nihon Sumo Kyōkai, Yokozuna Akebono had been shown respect.

2006, Mark Panek, Gaijin Yokozuna: A Biography of Chad Rowan, page 265:

(sumo) A person holding the rank, either competing at the rank or retired after having achieved it.


ozeki

Terunofuji is the first in 64 years to be promoted to ozeki after spending two tournaments as a komusubi or sekiwake and the first since the season went to six meets in 1958.

2015 May 27, “Terunofuji promoted to ozeki after victory”, in Japan Times, archived from the original on 2018-05-09:

Former ozeki Hokutenyu, who held sumo’s second-highest rank for 44 tournaments […] died of kidney cancer at a Tokyo hospital on Friday at the age of 45.

2006 June 25, “Former ozeki Hokutenyu dies at 45”, in Japan Times:

(sumo) A sumo wrestler ranking below yokozuna and above sekiwake; champion.


sekiwake

Are there special standards for promotion to sekiwake or komusubi? No. The same standards apply as for promotion within the maegashira ranks.

2018, “Standards for Sumo ranking chart”, in Ozumo.com, archived from the original on 2018-04-17:

Sekiwake Tochinoshin (3-2) picked up a much-needed win against komusubi Chiyotairyu (1-4) after suffering his second loss the previous day.

2018 March 15, “Kakuryu makes most of second opportunity against Takarafuji”, in Japan Times, archived from the original on 2018-04-21:

(sumo) A sumo wrestler ranked below ozeki and above komusubi.


komusubi

(sumo) A sumo wrestler of the lowest sanyaku rank, below sekiwake and above maegashira.


maegashira

(sumo) the highest salaried rank of sumo wrestler, below komusubi and above juryo; the lowest rank in the makuuchi division


juryo

Borrowed from Japanese 十両(じゅうりょう) (jūryō, “ten ryō”), from Middle Chinese 十 (dʒip, “ten”) + 兩 (ljáng, “tael”).

ja-r

十両(じゅうりょう) (jūryō, “ten ryō”)

(sumo) The second highest division in sumo wrestling, below makuuchi and above makushita; rikishi at this point receive a salary.


makuuchi

Japanese 幕内 (maku-uchi まくうち, "inside the curtain"), from Middle Chinese 幕 (mak "curtain", "covering") + Japanese うち (uchi "inside").

(sumo) The highest division of sumo wrestling, above juryo, comprising the yokozuna, ozeki, sekiwake, komusubi and maegashira ranks.


sanyaku

Borrowed from Japanese 三役, literally "three ranks".

(sumo) Any of the three highest ranks of sumo wrestler: komusubi, sekiwake and ozeki, together with the honorary title of yokozuna.


makushita

(sumo) The third highest division of professional sumo wrestling, below juryo; the lowest division at which a salary is paid.


dohyo

(sumo) The ring, made of compacted clay, in which a sumo wrestling match is held.


dohyo-iri

(sumo) a ring-entering ceremony performed by rikishi, in the juryo and higher divisions, upon entering the dohyo


rikishi

From Japanese 力士 (りきし rikishi), from Middle Chinese 力士 (lik-dʐí), from Old Chinese 力士 (*k.rək m-s-rəʔ "man of great strength"), from 力 ("strength") + 士 ("man", "soldier").


dohyo matsuri

(sumo) A Shinto ceremony in which the dohyo is purified and blessed prior to each basho.


honbasho

(sumo) Any of the six official sumo tournaments.


akeni

(sumo) A box used by sekitori to store their personal items.


sekitori

(sumo) A rikishi, of rank juryo and above, who draws a salary.


amasumo

From Japanese アマ相撲 (ama-sumō); ama is a shortening of English amateur.


ani-deshi

(sumo) The senior rikishi in a particular heya.


oyakata

(sumo) retired rikishi who have reached a certain standing; they either become shisho or help train in others' heya


banzuke

(sumo) the document, published six times a year, before each basho, showing the official rankings of all rikishi


jungyo

Borrowed from Japanese 巡業 (じゅんぎょう, jungyō), from Middle Chinese 巡 (zwin, “to make rounds, tour”) + 業 (ngjæp, “work”).

ja-l/helper

巡業 (じゅんぎょう, jungyō)

ja-l

巡業 (じゅんぎょう, jungyō)

der

(sumo) A regional tour, undertaken between honbashos, during which the rikishi give exhibition matches.


jun-yusho

(sumo) The second-place position, behind yusho, at the end of a basho; often shared by more than one rikishi.


yusho

From Japanese 優勝 (“victory, championship”).

(sumo) The top-ranking position at the end of a basho; the championship.


bintsuke

(sumo) A wax, derived from soy, used in cosmetics, and to groom the topknot of a sekitori.


chankonabe

Borrowed from Japanese ちゃんこ鍋 (chankonabe).

(sumo) The staple diet of rikishi: a stew of meat, seafood and vegetables.


chikara gami

From Japanese 力紙 (chikara-gami, “strength paper”).

bor

(sumo) Sheets of paper used by rikishi to wipe their lips after the ritual cleansing with chikara mizu.


chikara mizu

From Japanese 力水 (chikara mizu, “strength water”).

(sumo) Water used by rikishi to ritually cleanse the mouth before a match.


daigappei

(sumo) a jungyo tour that features all the rikishi of jonidan rank or higher


jonidan

(sumo) The division of sumo wrestlers above jonokuchi and below sandanme, containing the highest number of rikishi.


jonokuchi

(sumo) A member of the lowest division of sumo wrestlers (below jonidan) to which new recruits are promoted after their first tournament.


sandanme

(sumo) the division of sumo wrestlers above jonidan and below makushita


danpatsushiki

Borrowed from Japanese 断髪式 (danpatsushiki).

(sumo) The ceremony in which the topknot of a retiring rikishi is cut off.


intai-zumo

From Japanese 引退相撲 (intai-zumō, literally “retirement sumo”).

(sumo) A one-day exhibition tournament to commemorate the retirement of a salaried rikishi.


degeiko

(sumo) A practice session between rikishi of competing heya.


deshi

Borrowed from Japanese 弟子 (deshi, “disciple, pupil”).

(sumo) a member of a heya ("stable"); trained by its shisho


eboshi

(sumo) the hat of black lacquer worn by the gyoji presiding over a sumo match


fumidawara

Borrowed from Japanese 踏み俵 (fumidawara, “stepping-bale”).

(sumo) rice bales used at the side of the dohyo at steps


tawara

(sumo) Any of the straw bales, packed with earth, placed in a circle on the dohyo and forming the area that the rikishi must stay inside.


fusa

(sumo) The four knotted tassels hanging from the roof of the dohyo; symbolising the four seasons.


fusen

Borrowed from Japanese 不戦 (fusen, “not fighting, not competing”).

(sumo) A sumo match that is cancelled due to the absence of one of the rikishi.


fusenpai

(sumo) a loss by default for failing to appear, normally because of injury


fusensho

(sumo) a win by default due to the opponent not appearing, normally due to injury


gino-sho

(sumo) a prize for technique; one of the sansho prizes


sansho

(sumo) Any of the three special prizes awarded at the end of a basho.

三賞

special prize awarded at the end of a basho


kanto-sho

(sumo) A special prize for fighting-spirit; one of the sansho prizes.


shukun-sho

(sumo) A special prize for outstanding performance; one of the sansho prizes.


gunbai

From Japanese 軍配 (“war fan”), shortened form of 軍配団扇 (gunbai uchiwa).

(sumo) The lacquered wooden fan used by the gyoji.


hanazumo

From Japanese 花相撲 (hana-zumō, literally “flower sumo”).

(sumo) A special sumo exhibition tournament.


haridashi

(sumo) an extra rikishi at a rank that normally only allows two


heyagashira

(sumo) the rikishi of highest rank in a particular heya


higashi

From Japanese 東 (higashi, “east”), from the way the eastern or right side of the sumo ranking list is considered more prestigious, by analogy with the rising sun as opposed to the setting sun.

(sumo) The (more prestigious) right-hand side of the banzuke.

(sumo) A rikishi listed on the right side of the banzuke.


nishi

From Japanese 西 (nishi, “west”), from the way the western or left side of the sumo ranking list is considered less prestigious, by analogy with the setting sun as opposed to the rising sun.

(sumo) the left-hand (less prestigious) side of the banzuke (番付, “ranking list”)

(sumo) a rikishi (力士, “sumo wrestler”) listed on the left side of the banzuke


hyoshigi

I put the glasses down and found that my heart was beating fast, thumping with an accelerating sound like that of the hyoshigi which I had last heard in that sombre vaporous gallery in the Wallace Collection.

1978, Iris Murdoch, The Sea, The Sea, Vintage, published 1999, page 247:

(sumo) One of the wooden sticks that are clapped by the yobidashi to draw the spectator's attention.


yobidashi

(sumo) Any of the functionaries whose tasks include building the dohyo, making announcements, singing the shikona of each rikishi and advising them of preparation time.


shikona

(sumo) The wrestling name of a rikishi, normally derived from his heya, place of birth etc.


ichidai toshiyori

From Japanese 一代年寄 (ichidai toshiyori, literally “lifelong elder”).

(sumo) the lifelong status of elder conferred on an outstanding yokozuna


ichimon

(sumo) Any of the five groups that most heya belong to.

一門

any of the five groups that most heya belong to


ichomage

(sumo) Alternative spelling of oichomage


oichomage

From Japanese 大銀杏髷 (oo-ichō-mage, literally “gingko topknot”).

(sumo) The elaborate hairstyle, resembling a gingko leaf, worn by sekitori during bouts and on ceremonial occasions.


juryo-kaku

(sumo) the rank of gyoji who officiates a bout involving a rikishi from the juryo division


kachi-koshi

(sumo) a majority of wins in an honbasho; reflects positively on the rikishi's ranking


make-koshi

(sumo) a majority of losses in a honbasho; reflects negatively on the rikishi's ranking


kanjin-sumo

From Japanese 勧進相撲 (kanjin-zumō), with zumō changed to its usual English form sumo.

(sumo) The historic form of sumo that developed into the modern sport.


kensho

(sumo) Prize money given to encourage rikishi by sponsors.


kinboshi

Borrowed from Japanese 金星 (kinboshi, “gold star”).

(sumo) An honour awarded to a rikishi of maegashira rank upon beating a yokozuna.


kinjite

Borrowed from Japanese 禁じ手 (kinjite), from 禁じる (kinjiru, “to forbid”) + 手 (te, “hand”).


kimarite

(sumo) any of the 82 techniques that may be used to win a match


kimarite-gakari

(sumo) The official who announces the winner of the torikumi and the kimarite used.


torikumi-hyo

From Japanese 取組表 (torikumi-hyō, literally “bout table”).

(sumo) The programme of bouts in a day at a tournament.


koen-kai

(sumo) a sumo fan club, either for a heya or for a particular rikishi; a useful source of money


ozumo

Borrowed from Japanese 大相撲 (grand sumo).


maezumo

Borrowed from Japanese 前相撲, literally "before sumo".

(sumo) The unofficial rank of beginners etc.


makuuchi dohyo-iri

From Japanese 幕内土俵入り (makuuchi dohyō-iri, literally “makuuchi ring-entering”).

(sumo) A group ring-entering ceremony performed by all members of the makuuchi division, except the yokozuna, after the juryo bouts.


makuuchi-kaku

(sumo) The gyoji who referees bouts involving a rikishi from the makuuchi division.


masu-seki

(sumo) The expensive seats, holding four people, on the ground floor of the arena.


matawari

(sumo) A form of exercise in which a rikishi sits on the ground with his legs wide apart, then lowers his torso to touch the ground between his legs.


matta

(sumo) The false start of a bout due to mutual misunderstanding.


mizuhiki-maku

(sumo) The curtain that hangs from the yakata, symbolizing the movement of clouds and the passing of time.


mono-ii

From Japanese 物言い (mono-ii, literally “talk of things”).

(sumo) a conference among the shimpan to reconsider a referee's decision


shimpan

From Japanese 審判 (shinpan, しんぱん), from Middle Chinese 審判 (ʃim-pʰàn "to judge", "to try") (compare Mandarin shěnpàn 审判).

(sumo) the four judges, sitting at each cardinal point


shiranui-gata

Borrowed from Japanese 不知火型 (shiranuigata).

(sumo) The less common ring-entering ceremony performed by yokozuna, consisting only of offensive moves.


unryu-gata

(sumo) The normal ring-entering ceremony performed by yokozuna, consisting of both offensive and defensive moves.


myoseki

(sumo) Any of the 105 names available to sumo oyakata.

名跡

any of the 105 names available to sumo oyakata


nage-waza

(sumo) Any of the 12 throwing techniques.


sashichigai

(sumo) a decision by the shimpan to overturn the decision of the gyoji


seigen jikan

(sumo) The time allocated for the shikiri rituals before the beginning of each bout.


senshuraku

Borrowed from Japanese 千秋楽 (senshūraku, literally “music of a thousand autumns”).

(sumo) The last day of a fifteen-day tournament, always on a Sunday.


shihon-bashira

From Japanese 四本柱 (shi-hon-bashira, literally “four pillars”).

(sumo) The four pillars that support the tsuriyane over the sumo ring; in modern practice removed for better television coverage.


shikiri

(sumo) the preparation time before a sumo bout during which the rikishi try to gain a psychological advantage by intense staring (niramiai) and when salt is ceremonially thrown (kiyome-jio)


shikiri-sen

Borrowed from Japanese 仕切り線 (shikiri-sen).

(sumo) The two enamel lines, embedded in the dohyo, behind which the rikishi crouch in preparation for the tachiai.


tachiai

(sumo) the initial charge towards each other by the rikishi at the start of a sumo bout


buchikamashi

Borrowed from Japanese ぶちかまし (buchikamashi).

(sumo) The heavy collision of the two rikishi during the tachiai at the start of a sumo bout.


shiko

(sumo) One of the basic sumo exercises, in which the rikishi raises a leg high in the air to the side, then brings it down with a stamp. It is also performed on the dohyo to drive away bad spirits.


shimekomi

Borrowed from Japanese 締め込み (shimekomi).

(sumo) The silk mawashi worn by sekitori for competition.


shindeshi

(sumo) a young rikishi recruit, not yet professional


shini-tai

(sumo) A rikishi who is crushed by his opponent when both fall simultaneously.


shokkiri

(sumo) A comical display of fouls etc performed by deshi during tours.


shozoku

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-shozoku.wav

(sumo) The garment worn by the gyoji, derived from court dress.


shusse hiro

(sumo) The ceremonial introduction of new rikishi at a tournament.


suna-kaburi

From Japanese 砂被り (suna-kaburi, literally “covered by sand”).

(sumo) The six rows of single seats closest to the dohyo.


tachimochi

From Japanese 太刀持ち (tachimochi, “sword bearer”).

(sumo) A rikishi who participates in the dohyo-iri ceremony of a yokozuna by carrying a sword behind him.


tachi-seki

From Japanese 立ち席 (tachi-seki, literally “standing seat”).

(sumo) tickets to stand at the back of the arena.


taiko

Borrowed from Japanese 太鼓 (たいこ taiko), from 太 (tʰàj, “great”) + 鼓 (kú, “drum”).

(sumo) A traditional drum, beaten by yobidashi to announce the beginning of a tournament, and at the end of each day


tategyoji

Borrowed from Japanese 立行司 (tate-gyōji).

(sumo) Either of the two highest-ranked gyoji who referee matches involving a yokozuna.


teppo

(sumo) a wooden pillar that is slapped repeatedly by a rikishi as a sumo wrestling exercise.


teuchi-shiki

From Japanese 手打ち式 (teuchi-shiki, literally “clapping ceremony”).

(sumo) A welcoming ceremony to new rikishi.


tokei-gakari

From Japanese 時計係 (tokei-gakari, literally “one who is responsible for the clock”).

(sumo) The shimpan who acts as timekeeper.


tokoyama

(sumo) A hairdresser who makes the rikishi's topknot; they have their own ranks.


toku-dawara

Borrowed from Japanese 徳俵 (tokudawara, “special rice bale”).

In fact, the sumo ring is not exactly round. Instead, the ring is broadened at four points by the width of a small rice bag (see fig. 1). These four rice bags placed at the cardinal points of the ring are called toku-dawara (lucky straw bags).

Just outside the circle the cardinal directions are marked by four tokudawara. It is only on these that the contestant can step outside the ring and not be deemed to have lost.

2000, Tony Allan, Realm of the Rising Sun: Japanese Myth, page 51:

(sumo) Small enlargements at the cardinal points of the dohyo; originally the entry and exit points.


torinaoshi

(sumo) a rematch; ordered by the judges if unable to determine a winner


toshiyori-kabu

(sumo) One of the 105 licenses to coach, and the associated name of an elder.


tsukebito

(sumo) An attendant of a higher-ranked rikishi or gyoji.


tsuki-oshi

(sumo) a style of fighting involving only thrusts or pushes


tsuna

Borrowed from Japanese 綱 (つな, tsuna, “rope”).

(sumo) the wide ceremonial belt, with hanging zigzag ribbons, worn by a yokozuna


tsunauchi

(sumo) the ceremony in which a yokozuna's tsuna belt is made and presented


tsuyuharai

Borrowed from Japanese 露払い, literally "dew sweeper".

(sumo) a heralding attendant who walks in front of a yokozuna at his dohyo-iri ceremony


yagura

Borrowed from Japanese 櫓 (“tower, turret, keep, scaffold”).

(sumo) A high wooden tower in front of a sumo arena from which a yobidashi beats the taiko drum each day before and after each tournament.


yakata

(sumo) The structure, suspended over the sumo dohyo, that resembles the roof of a Shinto shrine.


yotsu-zumo

(sumo) A style of sumo centred on gripping the mawashi.


yumitori-shiki

(sumo) The bow-twirling ceremony that closes each day of a tournament.


zensho yusho

Borrowed from Japanese 全勝優勝 (zenshō yūshō).

(sumo) the act of winning a tournament and not losing a single bout


zenpai

Borrowed from Japanese 全敗 (zenpai, “utter defeat”).

(sumo) the act of losing every bout in a tournament


isamiashi

Borrowed from Japanese 勇み足, literally "forward step out".

(sumo) a situation in which an attacking rikishi accidentally steps too far forward and out of the ring, his opponent thus winning


fumidashi

From Japanese 踏み出し (fumidashi, literally “stepping out”).

(sumo) A situation in which a defending rikishi accidentally steps too far back and out of the ring, his opponent thus winning. A rear step out.


koshikudake

Borrowed from Japanese 腰砕け, literally "inadvertent collapse".

(sumo) A situation in which a rikishi accidentally falls over, his opponent thus winning.


okuriashi

Borrowed from Japanese 送足, literally "step out".

(sumo) A situation in which a rikishi accidentally steps out of ring whilst carrying his opponent out, his opponent thus winning.


tsukihiza

Borrowed from Japanese 突き膝 (つきひざ, tsukihiza), literally meaning “push-down knee”.

(sumo) a situation in which a rikishi accidentally touches the dohyo with his knee, his opponent thus winning


tsukite

Borrowed from Japanese つき手, meaning "hand touch down".

(sumo) The situation in which a rikishi accidentally touches the dohyo with his hand, his opponent thus winning.


abisetaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 浴びせ倒し (“backward force down”).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker forces his opponent over backwards by throwing his weight into him from a grappling position.


amiuchi

Borrowed from Japanese 網打ち, literally fisherman's throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker throws his opponent behind him by pulling his arm with both hands and twisting backwards; resembles casting a fishing net.


ashitori

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker takes his opponent down by grabbing and lifting his leg with both hands


chongake

Borrowed from Japanese ちょん掛け, literally "pulling heel hook".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker hooks his heel behind that of his opponent from the inside, pulls the leg towards him, grabs the opponent's arm on the same side and twists him sideways and backwards.


gasshohineri

Borrowed from Japanese 合掌捻り, literally "clasped hand twist down".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker clasps his hands behind the opponent's back and twists him down and over


harimanage

From Japanese 波離間投げ (“backward belt throw”).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker, at the edge of the dohyo, reaches over his opponent's shoulder, grabs his mawashi from behind, then pulls and twists him past his own body.


hatakikomi

Borrowed from Japanese 叩き込み, literally "slap down".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker dodges his opponent at the tachiai and slaps his opponent's shoulder, back or arm, forcing him to touch the dohyo


hikiotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 引き落とし, literally hand pull down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls on his opponent's arm, shoulder or mawashi while backing away.


hikkake

Borrowed from Japanese 引っ掛け, literally arm-grabbing force out.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's arm with both hands and pulls him past him while moving backwards and to the side.


izori

From Japanese 居反り, literally backwards body drop.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker dives under his opponent's charge, grabs his knees or his mawashi, and lifts him up and over backwards.


kainahineri

Borrowed from Japanese 腕捻り, literally "two-handed arm twist down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker locks one of his opponent's arms with both arms, then twists him down.


kakenage

Borrowed from Japanese 掛け投げ, literally hooking inner thigh throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker hooks one leg under those of his opponent, raises the hooked leg up and back forcing the opponent up and over.


kakezori

Borrowed from Japanese 掛け反り, literally "hooking backwards body drop".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker, with his head under one of his opponent's arms, takes an inside grip on the opponent's mawashi and twists him over a leg while driving his head into the opponent's side to force him over backwards.


katasukashi

Borrowed from Japanese 肩透かし, meaning under-shoulder swing down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker forces his opponent down by placing his hands on the opponent's shoulder blade (one inside and one outside) and pulling him down and forward while backing away.


kawazugake

Borrowed from Japanese 河津掛け, literally hooking backward counter throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker hooks his opponent's leg from the inside, pulls it forward and across his own body, taking him over backwards.


kekaeshi

Borrowed from Japanese 蹴返し, literally "minor inner foot sweep".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker sweeps his opponent's leg from under him by kicking it from the inside; often accompanied by a slap on the back.


ketaguri

Borrowed from Japanese 蹴手繰り, literally pulling inside ankle sweep.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker leaps aside at the tachiai and sweeps his opponent's front leg from the inside while slapping the shoulder or pulling the arm.


kimedashi

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker bars or locks the opponent's arms by wrapping his own arms round them from the outside, then grabs one of the wrists and pulls up and in and then swings or marches his opponent backwards and out. An arm-barring force-out.


kimetaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 極め倒し, literally "arm barring force down".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker bars or locks his opponent's arms from the outside then forces him down by throwing his weight on top of him


kirikaeshi

Borrowed from Japanese 切り返し, literally "twisting backward knee trip".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker puts his knee behind his opponent's leg then twists him backwards over the knee.


komatasukui

Borrowed from Japanese 小股掬い, meaning "over thigh scooping body drop".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker attempts to throw his opponent and, when the opponent steps forward to defend himself, the attacker grabs his leg, near the thigh, and pulls upward driving the opponent over backwards.


koshinage

Borrowed from Japanese 腰投げ, literally "hip throw".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker turns his opponent while pulling him onto his hips then straightens his knees and throws him over and onto his back


kotehineri

Borrowed from Japanese 小手捻り, literally armlocking twist down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker locks his opponents arm at the biceps then twists him around and down.


kotenage

Borrowed from Japanese 小手投げ, literally armlock throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker wraps his arm around that of his opponent and, when it is locked near the elbow, turning away from him.


kubihineri

Borrowed from Japanese 首捻り, literally head twisting throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker wraps one hand around his opponent's neck and grips his arm with the other; he then forces his opponent down by twisting his neck.


kubinage

Borrowed from Japanese 首投げ (“neck throw”).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker wraps one arm around his opponent's neck then turns and throws him.


makiotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 巻き落とし, meaning "twist down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker throws his opponent by twisting him towards his own inside hand.


mitokorozeme

From Japanese 三所攻め (mi-tokoro-zeme, literally “attacking three places”).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker attempts an inside leg trip with one leg, tries to pull the other out from under him, and drives his head into the opponent's stomach so as to force him out backwards. A triple attack force out.


nichonage

Borrowed from Japanese 二丁投げ, literally "body drop throw".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker places a leg in front of his opponent's leg, at the knee, then sweeps back with his leg and pulls the opponent forward over the leg.


nimaigeri

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker kicks away the opponent's ankle while throwing or twisting him onto his side.


okuridashi

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker drives his opponent out from behind.


okurigake

From Japanese 送り掛け, meaning "rear leg trip".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker hooks his legs behind one of his opponent's and pulls it towards himself from behind, toppling his opponent forward.


okurihikiotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 送り引き落とし, meaning "rear pull down".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker circles behind his opponent and pulls him down while backing away


okurinage

Borrowed from Japanese 送り投げ, literally "rear throw down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker circles behind his opponent and throws him forward or to the side and down.


okuritaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 送り倒し, literally "rear push down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker forces his opponent down from behind.


okuritsuridashi

Borrowed from Japanese 送り吊り出し, literally rear lift out.

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker circles behind his opponent, lifts him up and carries him out of the ring


okuritsuriotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 送り吊り落とし, meaning "rear lifting body slam".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker circles behind his opponent then lifts him up and slams him down.


drop kick

1933 April 22 Jumping Joe Savoldi publicity article
AND ON JOE'S DROP KICK THEY DROP - !

Joe was unable to return to the ring after missing a flying dropkick

1933 May 16, 10,000 FANS SEE LEWIS WIN FIFTH WRESTLING TITLE:

At no time did Savoldi attempt to employ the new attack that he calls "drop-kick." Once he offended the rules by using a flying tackle

1933 May 18, JOE SAVOLDI WINS MAT BOUT IN PHILADELPHIA:

1937 SAVOLDI'S DROP KICK
Easily the most spectacular match-winner of this season is Joe Savoldi's drop kick. It will be easily understood from this picture why "when they are kicked they stay kicked." After a man is stunned by the kick it is an easy matter for Savoldi to body press a fall.

Joe Savoldi, perhaps the originator of the dropkick, used to have a glorious crop of curls

1949, WHAT'S HAPPENED TO OLD-TIME FAVOURITES?:

2008 William Shatner Shatner On His Star Trek Signature Drop Kick 2 minutes 28 seconds Official William Shatner Page
okay, I'll just go out and my dropkick: raise the right hand, right leg, and then I had this flash of reality. Newton's law is equal force meets equal force, whatever that thing is, everything is equal, and I realize in a dropkick when you go up in the air like that, any force you push is hardly any force at all. The reality is, a dropkick has no significance whatsoever, only on the stuntman, that reels back.

(professional wrestling) A kick to the opponent made by leaping into the air and kicking with both feet before dropping to the ground.


omata

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's leg from the inside and lifts it up and backwards, driving his body into that of the defender, forcing him over onto his back. A thigh scooping body drop.


osakate

Borrowed from Japanese 大逆手, literally backward twisting overarm throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker, grappling near the edge, bends backwards and swings his opponent around and out.


oshidashi

Borrowed from Japanese 押し出し, literally "frontal push out".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker pushes his opponent out of the ring, maintaining hand contact at all times


oshitaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 押し倒し, meaning frontal push down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pushed his opponent backwards and over.


sakatottari

Borrowed from Japanese 逆とったり, literally arm bar throw counter.

(sumo) A kimarite, counter to a tottari, in which the attacker frees the arm being barred and forces his opponent to fall forward.


manchette

(fencing) A special glove cover worn by fencers, specifically sabreurs, on their weapon hand.


sabreur

(fencing) A fencer who fights with a sabre.


lamé

en-noun

lamé (countable and uncountable, plural lamés)

(fencing, countable) The electrically conductive jacket worn by foil and sabre fencers.


black card

A penalty card issued by an official in several sports for infractions.

(fencing) The most severe of penalties, which results in the fencer being expelled from the match.


attack au fer

(fencing) An attack on the opponent's blade, e.g. beat, expulsion, pressure


diamond cutter

(professional wrestling) A professional wrestling move in which the wrestler takes the opponent's neck and drops them to the mat.


liement

(fencing) An action in which one fencer forces the opponent's blade into the diagonally opposite line, (that is, from high line to low line on the opposite side, or vice versa) by taking it with the guard and forte of his own blade.


coulé

(fencing) An attacking or feinting movement where the blade slides continuously along the opponent’s blade.


counter-parry

(fencing) A parry that is done to defend against an opponent's parry and riposte.

(fencing) (often: contra-) A circular parry; one that moves in a circle to end up in the opposite position from which it started.


counter-time

(fencing) An attack that responds to the opponent's counter-attack.


coup d'arret

(fencing) A counter-attack that attempts to take advantage of an uncertain attack


croisé

Borrowed from French croisé. Doublet of cruciate.

(fencing) An action in which one fencer forces the opponent’s blade into the high or low line on the same side, by taking it with the guard and forte of his own blade


derobement

(fencing) An avoidance of the opponent's attempt to take the blade or beat, performed with a straight sword arm.


disengage

/ˌdɪsɪŋˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/

From Middle French désengager ; dis- + engage.

(fencing) A circular movement of the blade that avoids the opponent's parry


envelopment

envelopment (countable and uncountable, plural envelopments)

(fencing) An action to seize the opponent's blade in one line and lead it (without losing contact) through a full circle to end in the same line.


false attack

(fencing) An attack that is intended to miss or fall short, so as to produce a reaction from the opponent. Also called a false action.


moulinet

French moulinet, diminutive of moulin (“a mill”).

(fencing, chiefly sabre) A circular cut, often composed of a parry, usually prime or seconde, moving thence into a circular cut.


ballestra

(fencing) A very rapid attack made by a jump forward and lunge.


beat parry

(fencing) The deflection of the incoming attack with a sharp striking motion


opposition parry

opposition parry (plural opposition parries)

(fencing) The deflection of the incoming attack without ever losing contact with the blade from the initial engagement.


yielding parry

yielding parry (plural yielding parries)

(fencing) deflecting the incoming attack by maintaining contact with the blade and changing the point of contact between the blades, moving from a position of poor leverage to one using the forte for strong leverage


point-in-line

(fencing) An established threat made with the extended arm.


prise de fer

From French, literally "taking the steel".

(fencing) An engagement of the blades that attempts to control the opponent's weapon.


pronation

pronation (countable and uncountable, plural pronations)

From French pronation, from Latin pronatio.

(fencing) The position of the sword hand when the palm is facing down

pronaatio

fencing: position of sword hand with palm facing down


supination

supination (countable and uncountable, plural supinations)

(fencing) The position of the sword hand when the palm is facing up.

supinaatio

fencing: position of the sword hand with palm is facing up


remise

(fencing) A renewal of a failed action, without withdrawing the arm.


reprise

From Middle English reprise (noun) and reprisen (verb), from Old French reprise, from reprendre. In some senses borrowed anew from Modern French reprise.

(fencing) A renewal of a failed attack, after going back into the en garde position.


trompement

(fencing) The action of hitting an opponent at the end of a feint, after a successful deception.


French grip

(fencing) A grip used for foil and épée that consists of a slightly curved block of wood or aluminum wrapped in a rubber or leather grip-tape.


Italian grip

(fencing) A grip used for foil and épée that consists of a straight block of wood or aluminum wrapped in a rubber or leather grip-tape, with projecting prongs to aid grip.


avertissement

(fencing) A warning; used to indicate a minor rule infraction by one of the fencers


body cord

(fencing) The insulated wire that runs under a fencer's jacket, connecting the Electrical Competition weapon to the reel, and thence to the scoring machine.


corps-a-corps

Unadapted borrowing from French corps-à-corps (literally “body to body”). Compare corps, corpse, corpus.

ubor

(fencing) The action of two fencers coming into physical contact with one another with any portion of their bodies or hilts.


salut des armes

(fencing) A sort of a choreographed demonstration of arms, consisting of sets of fencers saluting, attacking, parrying, drilling and performing set routines in chorus.


broken time

(fencing) A sudden change in the tempo of one fencer's actions, used to fool the opponent into responding at the wrong time.


plastron

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-plastron.wav

Borrowed from French plastron, from Italian piastrone, augmentive of piastra (“breastplate”), from Latin emplastrum (“plaster”), from Ancient Greek ἔμπλαστρον (émplastron), from ἔμπλαστος (émplastos, “daubed, plastered”), from ἔμπλασσειν (émplassein, “to mould, form”).

(fencing) A half-jacket worn under the jacket for padding or for safety.


shitatedashinage

Borrowed from Japanese 下手出し投げ, literally pulling underarm throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker turns away from his opponent and pulls him forward and down.


shitatehineri

Borrowed from Japanese 下手捻り, literally twisting underarm throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker twists his opponent down with an inside grip.


shitatenage

Borrowed from Japanese 下手投げ, literally underarm throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent straight down with his inside arm as he twists away.


shumokuzori

Borrowed from Japanese 撞木反り, literally "bell hammer backwards body drop".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker ducks under his opponent's arm and lifts him up and takes him over backwards.


sokubiotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 素首落とし, literally head chop down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker chops down on his opponent's neck, forcing him to touch down.


sotogake

Borrowed from Japanese 外掛け, literally "outside leg trip".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent towards him, hooks his leg, and drives him over backwards.


flyweight

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-flyweight.wav

(martial arts) A weight class in many combat sports; e.g. in professional boxing of a maximum of 112 pounds or 50.8 kilograms.

kärpässarjalainen

combat sports -related term for small, light or unimportant


clinic

Borrowed from French clinique, from Late Latin clīnicus (“a bed-ridden person, one baptized on a sick-bed, a physician”), from Ancient Greek κλῑνικός (klīnikós, “pertaining to a bed”), from κλῑ́νη (klī́nē, “bed”), from κλῑ́νω (klī́nō, “to lean, incline”).

der

(wrestling) A series of workouts used to build skills of practitioners regardless of team affiliation.


Stink Face

Her low point came when she was the unlucky recipient of a “Stink Face” administered by Rikishi.

2001, Floyd Conner, Wrestling's Most Wanted:

2002, Mick Foley, Foley is Good http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&vid=ISBN0061032417&id=Zghk-VaOVC8C&pg=PA181&lpg=PA181&sig=awDF-ul0is7ZNxd8sp7_j-xGTuQ
What I have in mind for Al is the literary equivalent of Mr. Socko, The Worm, The Stink Face, The Ho Train, and The People’s Elbow all being delivered simultaneously, and the effect will be devastating.

A character named “Puke,” who can vomit on command, X-Pac urinating in an opponents boot, and Rikishi’s “stink face” (i.e., rubbing his massive rear in the face of another wrestler) are examples of attempts to boost wrestling ratings.

2003, Patrice A Oppliger, Wrestling and Hypermasculinity http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&vid=ISBN0786416920&id=kbf5Lwzl2J8C&pg=PA68&lpg=PA68&sig=InDuvz1P8nk-kUPM5Dig5b5CS78

(professional wrestling) A humiliating wrestling move in which a wrestler rubs their exposed buttocks in their opponent's face.


canister

desctree

→ German: Kanister
→ Ladin: canister
→ Polish: kanister
→ Romanian: canistră

→ Irish: ceanastar

From Middle English canustyr (“basket”), a borrowing from Latin canistrum. Doublet of canaster and knaster.
* (metal receptacle): Through influence of unrelated can.
* (projectile): Short for canister shot, so called for its casing.

Caunt let fly left and right, but Bendy ducked his canister, and got down with more caution than gallantry.

1897, R. G. Allanson-Winn, Bertram Fletcher Robinson, Boxing, page 225:

(boxing, slang, archaic) A person's head.


full nelson

With the quickness of a striking rattler he launched himself full upon Sabor’s back, his strong young arms seeking and gaining a full-Nelson upon the beast, as he had learned it that other day during his bloody, wrestling victory over Terkoz.

1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A. L. Burt Company, 1914 June, →OCLC:

Bouncers had kids in full nelson headlocks as we were rushed out the side door because we were told it was too dangerous. The place was a mess; it was a total riot.

2017 July 18, Daniel Dylan Wray, quoting Martin Rev, “‘It was like going into the trenches’: how Suicide rioted against plastic punk”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

He constantly (and inconsequentially) reports online abuse too, like the person who said he should be “put in a full nelson and thrown in a river” for his mythical sewage vote

2021 October 26, Helen Pidd, “‘Got to be accessible’: the Derbyshire MP set on holding surgeries”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(wrestling) A hold in which the wrestler applying the hold puts their arms under the arms of their opponent and applies pressure to the back of their opponent's head or neck.

Chris Masters
Kitchener, Ontario
Prairie Wrestling Alliance


brainbuster

(wrestling) A move in which the wrestler drops the opponent on the head to the mat.


half nelson

(wrestling) A hold in which the wrestler applying the hold puts one arm under the arm of the opponent and applies pressure to the back of the opponent's head or neck.


monkey flip

(professional wrestling) A move in which a wrestler takes his opponent and flips that person over his head.


monkey flip

en-verb

monkey flip (third-person singular simple present monkey flips, present participle monkey flipping, simple past and past participle monkey flipped)

monkey flips (present singular third-person)
monkey flipping (participle present)
monkey flipped (participle past)
monkey flipped (past)

Rappers; I monkey flip 'em with the funky rhythm / I be kickin', musician inflictin' composition

1994, Nas (lyrics and music), “N.Y. State of Mind”, in DJ Premier (music), Ilmmatic:

(professional wrestling, transitive) To perform a monkey flip on.


shooter

From Middle English schoter, schuter, schotter, scheter, schetare, scheotere, from Old English sċēotere (“shooter”), equivalent to shoot + -er. Compare Dutch schieter, schutter (“shooter”), German Schießer (“shooter”), Swedish skjutare, West Frisian sjitter (“shooter”).

(professional wrestling slang) A professional wrestler who uses actual fighting moves as part of his style, or who speaks his mind during a live or televised event (instead of speaking from a script).


hiya

(martial arts) A kiai, shouted as a limb is swung in attack.


sotokomata

Borrowed from Japanese 外小股, literally "over thigh scooping body drop".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's leading leg, over the top of the thigh, and drives him over backwards


sotomuso

Borrowed from Japanese 外無双, literally “outside nothing pair”, but meaning "outer thigh propping twist down".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker reaches over his opponent's body to block his leg and, at the same time, locking his gripping arm and twisting him over onto his back


sototasukizori

Borrowed from Japanese 外たすき反り, literally outer reverse backwards body drop.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker bars his opponent's inside gripping arm, grabs his closest leg and pulls it up and forces him to touch down.


sukuinage

Borrowed from Japanese 掬い投げ, literally "scooping throw" but conventionally translated as "beltless arm throw".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker releases his gripping hand, extends his arm across his opponent's back, turns away and pulls him forward and down


susoharai

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker sweeps his opponent's leg forward and pulls him backwards and down.


susotori

Borrowed from Japanese 裾取り, literally ankle pick.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's ankle and pulls it up, driving him over backwards.


low blow

(boxing) An unfair or illegal blow that lands below the opponent’s waist.


below the belt

(boxing) Of a punch, landing illegally, below the opponent's waist.

onder de gordel

(boxing) of a punch that lands below the opponent's waist


tasukizori

From Japanese たすき反り (“reverse backwards body drop”).

bor

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker ducks under his opponent's arm, grabs his arm and back leg and leans backwards, driving him over.


tokkurinage

Borrowed from Japanese 徳利投げ, "two-handed head twist down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's head or neck with both hands and twists him over.


tottari

Borrowed from Japanese とったり, literally "arm bar throw".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's arm at the wrist, bars it, and forces him down.


tsukaminage

Borrowed from Japanese つかみ投げ (tsukaminage), literally "lifting throw".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent past him and heaves him into the air.


tsukidashi

Borrowed from Japanese 突き出し, literally frontal thrust out.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker drives his opponent backwards and out using a rhythmic thrusting motion.


lariat

(wrestling) An attack where the wrestler runs towards an opponent, wraps his arm around their upper chest and neck and then forces them to the ground.


Greco-Roman

en-adj

Greco-Roman (comparative more Greco-Roman, superlative most Greco-Roman)

more Greco-Roman (comparative)
most Greco-Roman (superlative)

/ˌɡɹiːkəʊˈɹəʊmən/

/ˌɡɹɛkoʊˈɹoʊmən/

Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling#English

(wrestling) Describing Greco-Roman wrestling, a form of wrestling where fighters may only attack above the waist.


slugger

(boxing) A boxer who tends to deliver hard punches.


tsukiotoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 突き落とし, literally "thrust down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker drives his opponent down using a thrusting movement on his rib cage or shoulder.


tsukitaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 突き倒し, literally "frontal thrust down".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker, after a heated slapping exchange, thrusts his opponent over onto his back or side.


tsumatori

Borrowed from Japanese 褄取り, literally "rear toe pick".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker reaches down and picks up his opponent's foot (at the toes) and pulls back and up forcing him to fall forward


tsuridashi

Borrowed from Japanese 吊り出し (tsuridashi).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grips his opponent's mawashi and heaves him into the air, lifting him over and out of the ring.


tsuriotoshi

From Japanese 吊り落とし (tsuriotoshi, literally “hanging and dropping”).

bor

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grips his opponent's mawashi, lifts him, and swings him sideways and down. A lifting bodyslam.


tsutaezori

From Japanese 伝え反り (tsutaezori), literally underarm forward body drop.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker dives under his opponent's arm whilst maintaining a grip on it, then leans back, forcing him to fall forward.


uchigake

From Japanese 内掛け (uchigake, “inside leg trip”).

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent forward, hooks his opponent's leg with his own, and pulls him over backwards.


uchimuso

Borrowed from Japanese 内無双, literally inner thigh propping twist down.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker sweeps one of his opponent's legs up by hitting his inner thigh, then pulling him with the other hand.


ushiromotare

Borrowed from Japanese 後ろもたれ, literally backward lean out.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker leans into his opponent from behind, forcing him back and out.


utchari

Borrowed from Japanese うっちゃり, literally "backward pivot throw".

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker, in a last ditch effort, drops his hips while twisting and pulling his opponent up and past him, sometimes onto his back


uwatedashinage

Borrowed from Japanese 上手出し投げ, literally "pulling overarm throw".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent forward and down.


uwatehineri

Borrowed from Japanese 上手捻り, literally "twisting overarm throw".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker twists his opponent in the direction of his outside arm.


uwatenage

(sumo) a kimarite in which the attacker heaves his opponent down as he turns away


waridashi

Borrowed from Japanese 割り出し, literally "upper-arm force out".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker grabs his opponent's arm at the biceps and pushes him back and out.


watashikomi

Borrowed from Japanese 渡し込み (watashikomi, “thigh-grabbing push down”).

Akinoshima chases "Yankee Doodle Dandy" around the dohyo, until he finally wins by watashikomi (thigh grabbing push down).

1999 March 22, Ken Crouch, “Day 9 spoiler - Kintaro's Musings Group”, in rec.sport.sumo (Usenet):

Kyokushuzan deployed several rare techniques such as watashi-komi, which he used in September of 1996.

2013, J Sargeant, Wild Men, Bad Boys and Model Citiizens:

Thigh-Grabbing Push Down (Watashikomi)

2016, Andrew Zerling, Sumo for Mixed Martial Arts: Winning Clinches, Takedowns, & Tactics, →ISBN:

Ozeki Terunofuji (4-2) outlasted top-ranked maegashira Tochiozan (0-6), while New Year champion Kotoshogiku saw off sekiwake Okinoumi (1-5) with a watashikomi thigh-grabbing pushdown to level his mark at 3-3.

2016 November 18, “Goeido, Hakuho fall; Kakuryu still unbeaten”, in The Japan Times:

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker, while driving his opponent forward, grabs his leg and pulls it, forcing him over.


yaguranage

Borrowed from Japanese 櫓投げ, meaning inner thigh throw.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker pulls his opponent towards him, places his knee against his opponent's inner thigh and drives the leg upwards while forcing him over.


yobimodoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 呼び戻し, literally pulling body slam.

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker first pulls his opponent forward, then suddenly releases his grip and pushes him back and down.


yorikiri

From Japanese 寄り切り (yorikiri, “frontal force out”).

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker drives his opponent out backwards while maintaining a constant grip on his mawashi.


yoritaoshi

Borrowed from Japanese 寄り倒し, literally "frontal crush out".

(sumo) A kimarite in which, during a yorikiri attack, the opponent collapses to the floor.


zubuneri

Borrowed from Japanese ずぶねり, meaning "head pivot throw".

(sumo) A kimarite in which the attacker buries his head in the opponent's chest, locks his arm, and spins him down using the head as fulcrum.


jawbreaker

Bendoff went pluckily forward, but only to receive a jawbreaker from Couper's left, […]

1987, James Clarke, Like it was: The Star, 100 Years in Johannesburg, page 9:

(boxing, slang) A hard blow to the side of the face.


take a dive

en-verb

take a dive (third-person singular simple present takes a dive, present participle taking a dive, simple past took a dive, past participle taken a dive)

takes a dive (present singular third-person)
taking a dive (participle present)
took a dive (past)
taken a dive (participle past)

I decided there could be a nice bit of irony in a situation where a boxer, with a crown his for the taking, deliberately takes a dive to get revenge on the man he hates, who is betting everything on the boxer's victory.

1950, Jules Archer, I Sell What I Write, page 44:

"You got a fight next weekend. You take a dive in the fourth round, understand?"

2012, Gary Lovisi, “Boxing, Babes & Bullets”, in Battling Boxing Stories, Wildside Press LLC, →ISBN, page 165:

The businessman turned promoter rejected some of overseas rumors going around that Klitschko bet a large portion of funds on himself and then took a dive to collect.

2015 December 31, Vadim Pushkin, “Povetkin Promoter Praises Fury, Rejects Klitschko Dive Claim”, in Boxing Scene, retrieved 2016-08-03:

(idiomatic, boxing) To feign a knockout in order to lose intentionally.


baby face

[Jim] Freedman began his analysis by noting two important facts about professional wrestling: First, that heels triumph considerably more often than do babyfaces and, second, that they triumph by different means, relying on secret holds, sly managers, secret weapons, and illegal maneuvers, whereas babyfaces trust to their physical abilities and athletic training alone.

1989, Bruce Lincoln, “The Dialectics of Symbolic Inversion”, in Discourse and the Construction of Society: Comparative Studies of Myth, Ritual, and Classification, Oxford, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, part III (Classification), page 158:

And they [wrestling fans] identified with the local farmer Kasaboski, the French-Canadian boys from Montreal, the clean-cut American lads and the handsome, muscular baby faces. At the same time, they jeered the heels, the masked men, the arrogant, bearded Russians and Germans, and the treacherous Japanese. Promoters always played on stereotypes and post-war biases.

2007, Gary Howard, “Linking the East and the North”, in The Rassler from Renfrew: The History of Northland Wrestling Enterprises (1946–1980) Promoter – Larry Kasaboski, Renfrew, Ont.: General Store Publishing House, →ISBN, page 41:

A babyface’s success depends a great deal on the heels he’s facing. It’s all in how you make them look. A good heel will make your babyface look like Superman.

2007 October, Dave Batista [i.e., Dave Bautista], with Jeremy Roberts, “Evolution”, in Batista Unleashed, New York, N.Y.: Pocket Books, →ISBN, page 127:

(professional wrestling, slang) A headlining wrestler with a persona embodying heroic or virtuous traits and who is regarded as a "good guy", especially one who is handsome and well-conditioned.


smother

smother (third-person singular simple present smothers, present participle smothering, simple past and past participle smothered)

smothers (present singular third-person)
smothering (participle present)
smothered (participle past)
smothered (past)

From Middle English smothren, smortheren, alteration (due to smother, smorther (“a suffocating vapour, dense smoke”, noun)) of Middle English smoren (“to smother”), from Old English smorian (“to smother, suffocate, choke”), from Proto-Germanic *smurōną (“to suffocate, strangle”), probably related to *smallijan (“to burn”) or Old English smoca (“smoke”).
Cognate with Middle Low German smoren, smurten (“to choke, suffocate”), West Flemish smoren (“to smoke, reek”), Dutch smoren (“to suffocate, smother", also "to stew, simmer”), German schmoren (“to stew, simmer, braise”).

cog

(boxing) To prevent the development of an opponent's attack by one's arm positioning.


renewal

en-noun

renewal (countable and uncountable, plural renewals)

(fencing) An offensive action made immediately after a parried one.


tale of the tape

(boxing) The pre-fight measurements taken of the combatants.


suki

This gluing is "stoppage," and every stoppage means giving an advantage to the enemy, which is a suki.

1959, Daisetz Teitarō Suzuki, Zen and Japanese culture, page 143:

When you receive a strike, it is because there is a suki. Your opponent draws your attention to your weak spots, and you endeavor to ensure that you do not receive a strike in the same place again.

1997, Hiroshi Ozawa, Kendo: The Definitive Guide, →ISBN, page 20:

Often, though, a suki to the chest will cause the sword to become lodged between bone and cartilage making it very difficult to quickly remove.

2006, Kevin L. Seiler, Donald J. Seller, Karate-do, →ISBN, page 61:

(Japan, martial arts) An opening to the enemy; a weak spot that provides an advantage for one's opponent.


hank

From Middle English hank, of Scandinavian/North Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse hǫnk (compare haki (“something bent”)), related to Proto-Germanic *hakô (“hook”). Akin to Old English hangian (“to hang”). First known use: 14th century.

(wrestling) A throw in which a wrestler turns his left side to his opponent, twines his left leg about his opponent's right leg from the inside, and throws him backward.


get over

en-verb

get over (third-person singular simple present gets over, present participle getting over, simple past got over, past participle (UK) got over or (US) gotten over)

gets over (present singular third-person)
getting over (participle present)
got over (past)
got over (UK participle past)
gotten over (US participle past)

(professional wrestling slang) To establish a connection with the audience as a character or faction.


nock

From Middle English nokke, attested since the 14th century, probably from a Scandinavian/North Germanic language (compare Swedish nock (“notch”), but compare Dutch nok, from Middle Dutch nocke (“tip, point”). Both could be related to nook (“corner, recess”).

He took his arrow by the nock.

[1611?], Homer, “(please specify |book=I to XXIV)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets. […], London: […] Nathaniell Butter, →OCLC; republished as The Iliads of Homer, Prince of Poets, […], new edition, volume (please specify the book number), London: Charles Knight and Co., […], 1843, →OCLC:

(archery) The notch at the rear of an arrow that fits on the bowstring.


nock

(archery) fit the arrow to your bowstring


pound-for-pound

Sugar Ray Robinson is pound for pound the best boxer ever.

Oakland native Ward is now unbeaten in 25 fights and can now claim to be one of the top few pound-for-pound fighters on the planet after a technically dazzling display.

2011 December 18, Ben Dirs, “Carl Froch outclassed by dazzling Andre Ward”, in BBC Sport:

(sports, boxing) A comparison of fighters' (usually boxers) skill levels, regardless of what weight class they are in.


tori

Borrowed from Japanese 取り, from 取る (toru, “take, pick up”).

(judo, martial arts) One who executes a technique against the training partner, or uke.


squared circle

(sports, boxing, wrestling, professional wrestling) The boxing or wrestling ring.


tag-team

tag-team (third-person singular simple present tag-teams, present participle tag-teaming, simple past and past participle tag-teamed)

tag-teams (present singular third-person)
tag-teaming (participle present)
tag-teamed (participle past)
tag-teamed (past)

We haven't tag-teamed in the ring for quite a while.

2010, Hulk Hogan, My Life Outside the Ring, →ISBN:

I suggested, to no avail, that WWF (nature) should sponsor a fluffy black-and-white wrestler called the Panda, tag-teamed with the Game Warden.

2012, Paul Spencer Sochaczewski, An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles, →ISBN, page 171:

Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling David Shoemaker. He had some success, ... He tag-teamed with Tony Atlas (known variously as "Black Superman" and "Mr. USA") and, later, Andre the Giant, to some success.

2013, David Shoemaker, The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling, →ISBN, page 127:

(professional wrestling) To wrestle as part of a tag team (sense 1).


tag team

Probably from tag (“children’s chasing game in which one player (known as ‘it’) attempts to touch another, who then becomes ‘it’; (baseball) instance of touching the baserunner with the ball or the ball in a gloved hand to rule him ‘out’”) + team.

compound

(professional wrestling) A group of wrestlers who work together as a team. Only one is in the ring at any given time, and they change places by "tagging" each other with a gesture like a high five.


take the fall

en-verb

take the fall (third-person singular simple present takes the fall, present participle taking the fall, simple past took the fall, past participle taken the fall)

takes the fall (present singular third-person)
taking the fall (participle present)
took the fall (past)
taken the fall (participle past)

(idiomatic, informal, sports, especially boxing) To willingly lose a match, as in a fixed fight.


backheel

(wrestling) A method of tripping or throwing by getting the leg back of the opponent's heel on the outside and pulling forward while pushing his body back.


backheel

backheel (third-person singular simple present backheels, present participle backheeling, simple past and past participle backheeled)

backheels (present singular third-person)
backheeling (participle present)
backheeled (participle past)
backheeled (past)

(wrestling) To perform such a trip or throw.


one-two

(boxing) A one-two punch; two punches delivered in rapid succession

une-deux

boxing: two-punches delivered in rapid succession


faceplant

From face + plant (“place, set firmly”). Originally skateboarding and snowboarding slang, a humorous variant of handplant, which is an intentional technique in these sports.

(wrestling) A wrestling move in which an attacking wrestler forces an opponent down to the mat face-first without a headlock or facelock.


dry fire

dry fire (third-person singular simple present dry fires, present participle dry firing, simple past and past participle dry fired)

dry fires (present singular third-person)
dry firing (participle present)
dry fired (participle past)
dry fired (past)

(archery) To draw and release a bow without an arrow loaded.


changement

(fencing) A change in the tempo or rhythm of one's actions, to mislead the opponent.


rover

From Middle English roven (“to wander, to shoot an arrow randomly”) + -er.

inh

"By my hilt! no. There was little Robby Withstaff, and Andrew Salblaster, and Wat Alspaye, who broke the neck of the German. Mon Dieu! what men they were! Take them how you would, at long butts or short, hoyles, rounds, or rovers, better bowmen never twirled a shaft over their thumb-nails.

1890, Arthur Conan Doyle, chapter 22, in The White Company:

(archery, usually in the plural) A randomly selected target.