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why is boxing called boxing?

thought about it the other day, i've trawled all my regular combat sports sources and drawn a blank, any ideas?

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    the middle English word "box" means "blow" or "hit", later it was defined as "blow by fist". It has nothing to do with "the box" where you can "box in" things to store. "Boxing Day"on Christmas has to do with presents which are "boxed in", but this is by chance a double meaning of the word, only in English, not in German and Skandinavian languages. So the word "box" has 2 different origins and 2 meanings, which seems a little weird, but that's language.

    In summary "boxing" means the same as "hitting" or "blowing" by fists.

    Source(s): etymologic dictionary
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    It's because the actions they make with their hands looks like they're folding boxes.

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