Welterweights

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A weight class in boxing for fighters who generally weigh between 140 and 147 pounds, often characterized by high speed and technique
2. A competitive division in professional boxing designed for athletes weighing from 140 to 147 pounds, noted for showcasing agility and skill
3. A category in the sport of boxing that encompasses competitors weighing between 140 and 147 pounds, typically featuring fast-paced bouts

Etymology: "Welterweights" is the plural of "welterweight," a noun for a boxing weight class. The word is a compound of "welter," an older English term meaning a heavy fall or a confused tumble, and "weight." Boxers in this class were named for the way the word's first element suggests a rough, heavy blow, though the link between the two parts is the sense of "weight" itself rather than any single dramatic event. The plural form simply refers to more than one fighter in the division, so the word's origin is the same as the singular: a compound noun built from an English word for a heavy fall and the ordinary noun "weight." Its meaning as a category of fighters comes from the boxing world, where weight classes were standardized and given names.

Synonyms: lightweights, boxers, wrestlers, fighters, athletes