pugilist

[pyoo-juh-list] /ˈpyu dʒə lɪst/

noun

a person who fights with the fists; a boxer, usually a professional.

Origin

1780-90; < Latin pugil (see pugilism) + -ist

Related forms

pugilistic, adjective

pugilistically, adverb

unpugilistic, adjective

Examples from the web for pugilist

But, it graphically characterizes the pugilist as to type.
Yet so far she has proved to be no great shakes as a pugilist.
All you need to do is roughly align your ambulant pugilist with a human punching bag, then let loose on him.
It's a game of skill and finesse that also indulges the pugilist in everyone.
The reluctant pugilist rises to fame, despite the efforts of a rival entrepreneur.

Word Origin and History for pugilist

1789, from Latin pugil "boxer, fist-fighter," related to pugnus "a fist" (see pugnacious) + -ist. Related: Pugilistic (1789); pugilistically. Pugil occasionally turns up in English as "boxer, fist-fighter" (from 1640s), but it has not caught on. Pugil stick (1962) was introduced by U.S. military as a substitute for rifles in bayonet drills.