martial art

English

Etymology

Calque of Japanese 武術 (bujutsu), which is itself borrowed from Chinese 武術 (wǔshù). However this term has been already mentioned in Pope's Iliad (1715, 4.360), and in Sotheby's Iliad (1831, book 6).

Noun

martial art (plural martial arts)

  1. Any of several fighting styles which contain systematized methods of training for combat, both armed and unarmed; often practiced as a sport, e.g. boxing, karate, judo, silat, wrestling, or Muay Thai.
  2. Military skills, proficiency in military strategy, prowess in warfare.
    • 1832, Richard Chenevix, An Essay Upon National Character: 4. On patriotism, p. 481:
      […] of all the modes by which the advantage of his country may be secured, the martial arts and valour are those by which a Swiss the most hopes to promote it.

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