toxophilite

[ tok-sof-uh-lahyt ]

noun

1. a devotee of archery; archer.

toxophilite

/ tɒkˈsɒfɪˌlaɪt /

noun

1. an archer

adjective

1. of or relating to archery

Derived Forms

• toxˈophily, noun

Other Words From

• tox·oph·i·lit·ic [tok-sof-, uh, -, lit, -ik], adjective
• tox·ophi·ly noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of toxophilite¹

1785–95; Toxophil ( us ) bow-lover (coined by Roger Ascham in his 1545 book so entitled < Greek tóxo ( n ) bow + -philos -phile ) + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of toxophilite¹

C18: from Toxophilus, the title of a book (1545) by Ascham, designed to mean: a lover of the bow, from Greek toxon bow + philos loving

Example Sentences

It is the ancestor of some rather jokey English words including "toxophilite" meaning archer - and the main element in a host of words in Greek covering almost every aspect of bowmanship.

From BBC

Toxophilite, tok-sof′i-līt, n. a lover of archery: an archer.—adj.

From Project Gutenberg

Many a toxophilite gathered last week at the Westchester-Biltmore Country Club, Rye, N. Y., saw arrows shot into the air, but knew they landed and where, for the occasion was the championship tournament of the National Archery Association.

From Time Magazine Archive

Into the gold bull's-eye of the 48-in. target at Canandaigua last week the arrows loosed by a lanky toxophilite from Coldwater, Mich., thumped most consistently.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mrs. Cummings became a toxophilite at the age of nine; now in her late 20's, she shoots with placid abandon from an orthodox position with her heels at right angles to a line drawn from the gold.

From Time Magazine Archive