Kayos

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. To defeat someone decisively in a physical fight or competition ; to render unconscious by striking ; a decisive victory by overpowering an opponent
2. The act of knocking out an adversary during a contest or confrontation ; to cause someone to lose consciousness through forceful impact ; a conclusive win by subduing the opposition
3. Overcoming an opponent by delivering a blow that causes unconsciousness ; to win a fight by striking with sufficient force ; the event of a total defeat in combat or sport resulting in loss of awareness

Etymology: "Kayos" is the plural of "kayo," a boxing term meaning a knockout. The noun "kayo" is a respelling of the initial letters K and O, standing for "knockout," so the spelling was built to match the sound of those two letters pronounced aloud. Writers and sportswriters used the form as a compact way to report that a fighter had been knocked out. The plural "kayos" is simply the regular plural of that noun, so it covers multiple knockouts, and the verb sense ("to kayo" an opponent) works the same way, turning the abbreviation into a verb meaning to knock an opponent out. The whole word is therefore a spelled-out abbreviation, not an older word that changed meaning.

Synonyms: knockouts

Antonyms: knock-ins