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“counterpunches”
1. An attack or a blow made by a boxer in response to an opponent's hitting him: During their fight the two boys gave each other counterpunches until one fell backwards and couldn't get up again.
2. Etymology: meaning of "to hit with the fist" was first recorded 1520's, probably influenced by punish; the noun sense of "a blow with the fist" is recorded by 1570's; from Middle English punchen, "to thrust, prod; from Old French poinçonner, ponchonner, "to emboss with a punch; from poinçon, ponchon, "pointed tool"; from Latin punire, "to inflict a penalty on, to cause pain for some offense"; from earlier poenire, from poena, "penalty, punishment".
2. Etymology: meaning of "to hit with the fist" was first recorded 1520's, probably influenced by punish; the noun sense of "a blow with the fist" is recorded by 1570's; from Middle English punchen, "to thrust, prod; from Old French poinçonner, ponchonner, "to emboss with a punch; from poinçon, ponchon, "pointed tool"; from Latin punire, "to inflict a penalty on, to cause pain for some offense"; from earlier poenire, from poena, "penalty, punishment".
This entry is located in the following units:
contra-, contro-, counter, contre-
(page 8)
poen-, peno-, poino-, poin-, puni-, pain-, penal-, pent-
(page 1)
pung-, punc-, punct-
(page 2)