Amazons

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of female warriors from ancient Greek mythology known for their bravery and combat skills
2. A mythical society of women who lived independently and often engaged in battle against men
3. A legendary tribe characterized by strong, fierce women, often depicted riding horses and defending their territory

Etymology: The Amazons were a race of warrior women in Greek myth, and the word that names them has a folk explanation that the Greeks themselves seem to have leaned on. Ancient writers often connected "Amazon" with the Greek "a-" (without) and "mazos" (breast), supposedly because these warriors cut off or burned one breast to draw a bow more easily. That story is a myth. Scholars generally regard it as a later invention, a neat explanation built to fit a name whose real origin lies elsewhere. The name itself, "Amazon" in Ancient Greek, "Amazṓn," has no clear, widely accepted meaning in Greek, and its exact origin remains uncertain. Because the word is not transparently Greek, it may come from a non-Greek source, but that remains a guess rather than a settled fact. What is clear is that the name was in use in Greek literature long before the English word existed, and that English took it over, pluralised as "amazons," to refer to the mythical women and, later, to any strong or fierce woman.