Revised 2021 More entries for lightweight
Factsheet
What does the word lightweight mean?
There are ten meanings listed in OED's entry for the word lightweight. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
lightweight has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
horse racing (late 1700s) boxing (1810s) rowing (1830s) coins and banknotes (1830s) costume (1830s)
How common is the word lightweight?
About 3occurrences per million words in modern written English
See frequency
How is the word lightweight pronounced?
British English
/ˈlʌɪtweɪt/
LIGHT-wayt
U.S. English
/ˈlaɪtˌweɪt/
LIGHT-wayt
See pronunciation
Where does the word lightweight come from?
Earliest known use
late 1700s
The earliest known use of the word lightweight is in the late 1700s.
OED's earliest evidence for lightweight is from 1770, in Younger Brother.
lightweight is formed within English, by compounding.
Etymons: light adj.1, weight n.1
See etymology
Nearby entries
- light truck, n.1906–
- light tube, n.1879–
- light value, n.1857–
- light-value shutter, n.1954–
- light valve, n.1922–
- light vessel, n.1788–
- lightwards, adv.1862–
- light water, n.1933–
- light water draught | light water draft, n.1805–
- light water line, n.1792–
- lightweight, n. & adj.1770–
- lightweight, v.1955–
- light-weighted, adj.1802–
- lightweighting, n.1940–
- light well, n.1826–
- 1904–
- 1892–
- light-winged, adj.1595–
- lightwood, n.¹1597–
- lightwood, n.²1693–
- lightworker, n.1976–
Browse more nearby entries
Etymology
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