bantamweight
|ban-tam-weight|
🇺🇸
/ˈbæntəmˌweɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˈbæntəmweɪt/
small, light (but combative)
Etymology
'bantamweight' originates from English, formed from 'bantam' (from Dutch 'Bantam', the name of a port/region in Java) and English 'weight' (from Old English 'weġt'), where 'Bantam' referred to a place known for small chickens and 'weight' referred to a class defined by body mass.
'bantam' originally referred to small domestic fowl associated with Bantam (via Dutch); the word 'bantam' later came to be used figuratively for small, feisty people. The compound 'bantamweight' was coined in English in the late 19th to early 20th century to name a lighter boxing weight division and then extended to other combat sports.
Initially connected to small fowl or to describe small, feisty persons; over time it evolved into a formal sporting term for a specific light weight division and an adjective meaning 'small but combative'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a boxing weight division for fighters weighing up to 118 pounds (about 53.5 kg).
He won the bantamweight title last year.
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Noun 2
a competitor who fights in the bantamweight class (in other sports the weight limits can differ; e.g., many MMA bantamweight classes range from about 126 to 135 pounds).
The bantamweight defended his belt successfully.
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Noun 3
informal: A small person who is combative or feisty.
Don't underestimate him—he's a real bantamweight.
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Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of the bantamweight division or its competitors.
She's a top bantamweight contender.
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Adjective 2
small but combative or feisty.
He has a bantamweight attitude despite his size.
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Last updated: 2026/01/12 23:22