Luchador

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A participant in a theatrical wrestling style that features vibrant masks and exaggerated personas, showcasing acrobatic skills and dramatic storytelling
2. An athlete in a popular Mexican wrestling form known for its use of colorful masks and dynamic performances, often embodying unique characters and narratives
3. A competitor in a distinctive form of wrestling characterized by flamboyant masks and theatrical performances that highlight athleticism and storytelling elements

Etymology: The Spanish "luchador" simply means "fighter" or "wrestler," and it comes from "luchar," to struggle or wrestle. That verb traces back to Latin "lūctārī," which carried the same sense of struggling against an opponent, and the Latin noun "lūctātor," meaning wrestler, sits directly behind the Spanish word. Its ancestry runs back to a Proto-Indo-European root for "to struggle," reconstructed as "lewg-", and the same root gave Latin "lūctor," a close relative of the verb. English borrowed the term from Spanish, where it kept its plain meaning of anyone engaged in a fight or contest. The sense narrowed in English to the masked wrestlers of Mexico, whose colorful costumes and theatrical characters made the name stand for a particular kind of performer rather than any struggler in general.