Sportsman

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who participates in athletic competitions and games demonstrates both physical skill and a sense of fair play
2. An individual showcasing capabilities in various physical endeavors, while also exhibiting a commitment to the principles of teamwork and respect
3. An individual engaged in competitive physical activities displays athletic ability and follows rules of fair competition and respect for opponents

Etymology: "Sportsman" is a plain compound: "sports" plus "-man." The first part traces back through Middle English "sporten," meaning to amuse oneself or play, which was shortened from "disporten," a word borrowed from Anglo-Norman "desporter." That French verb combined "des-," a prefix meaning "away" or "apart," with "porter," to carry, so its original sense was something like "carry oneself away" from work or care. Over time that sense of leisure narrowed to games and contests. The second part, "-man," is the Old English "mann," meaning a person of either sex in its oldest uses, which later narrowed to an adult male. Joined to "sports," it originally named a man engaged in pastimes of any kind, including hunting and fishing, before "sportsman" came to mean a person who plays organised games.

Synonyms: athlete, competitor, player, sportswoman, participant