Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "pugilist" shine mutumin da ya yi yaƙi da dunƙule; dan dambe. Yawanci ana amfani da kalmar don bayyana wanda ya kware a wasan dambe kuma wanda ya yi gasa da fasaha ko kuma a matsayin mai son. Kalmar "pugilist" ta fito daga kalmar Latin "pugil," wanda ke nufin "dan dambe."