Boxing Terminology

Hi All,

Many terms and phrases are used in and derived from boxing e.g. 'Box clever'. I'd be interested to know where the following come from and history behind them etc?

Haymaker
Southpaw
Kid Gloves (think this is boxing related?)


Any other words and phrases we use in everday language or general boxing terms you can think of?

On the ropes
Boxing clever
Out for the count
Fighting your corner

All used in day to day conversation.

'Up to scratch' dates back to bare knuckle days where they would scratch a line in the sand, where boxers would meet at the start of a round.

"Take the gloves off."

"Below the belt."

'Southpaw' is actually a baseball term. Early ball fields were built so that home plate faced to the east. That way, the late afternoon sun wouldn't be in the batter's eyes, a dangerous situation when a baseball is thrown in your direction. The pitcher faced west, and if he was left handed, the ball would be thrown with his south side hand, his "south paw".

Do I get extra points for understanding the question?

Also a non-boxing-related term, "kid gloves" were made from the skin of a young goat or lamb or similar. Such gloves were softer and finer than gloves made from harder leathers, and so became a symbol of elegance and gentility in the early 1800s. The term "handle with kid gloves" thus means to be very gentle or tactful. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term was first used in that sense (or written, anyway) in the 1830s.

Seems the same thoughts?
http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=291140

Haymaker is simply the motion of scything haye.. coming from round the back across your waist in a big round swinging motion.

toe the line,from the bare knuckle days,