Etymologically
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fighter

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 04:32. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈfaɪ.tə/, US /ˈfaɪ.t̬ɚ/[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English fightere, inherited from Old English feohtere, an agent noun formed from Old English feohtan + -ere (see fight).[2][3] Dutch vechter and German Fechter are comparable;[2] Old English also had feohtling in this sense.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

One who fights, a warrior: about 1300 in the OED, the 13th century in MWU.[4][3]

Semantic evolution

A pugnacious person or brawler is from about 1400,[4] and a hired fighter or bully from 1611.[4] A professional boxer is a fighter in modern use.[5][6] A fast military aircraft for aerial combat is from 1917,[2][4] with fighter escort, patrol and pilot from 1941 in the OED.[4] A determined person who never gives up is also a fighter.[5][6]

Timeline

  • c. 1300 – a warrior.[4]
  • c. 1400 – a brawler.[4]
  • 1611 – a hired champion.[4]
  • 1917 – a fighter aircraft.[2][4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person who fights, especially a boxer or soldier.
  2. A fast military aircraft designed to attack other aircraft.
  3. A person who is determined and does not give up easily.

Word family

  • fighter-bomber
  • fighter-interceptor
  • crime-fighter
  • bullfighter
  • gunfighter
  • nonfighter
  • freedom fighter
  • street fighter
  • fight
  • firefighter
  • prizefighter

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  6. ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins