sb. and a. [f. LIGHT a.1]
A. sb. Sporting. A man or animal under the average weight; esp. in Boxing, now usually a competitor not exceeding ten stone. Also in Racing handicaps, one of the horses carrying light weights, or a jockey riding at a low weight.
1773. Burke, Corr. (1844), I. 431. Send him a clever lad who can ride light weights.
1823. Egan, Grose’s Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Light weights, a pugilistic expression for gentlemen under twelve stone.
1823. ‘Jon Bee,’ Dict. Turf, Light weight, in affairs connected with the ring, persons of 11 stone and under are light weights.
1848. Thackeray, Bk. Snobs, xxxvi. As a light-weight, his skill is of the … highest order.
1871. M. Collins, Mrq. & Merch., III. iv. 112. Presently entered the landlord,… a light weight of five-and-thirty.
1897. Outing (U.S.), XXIX. 542/2. Some breeders of the … lightweights [dogs] have gone a trifle too far.
attrib. 1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ix. 73. Having broken her [a mare] into a perfect light-weight hunter.
1896. Daily News, 12 June, 6/3. The story of Mr. Porter’s connection with the turf from the time of his engagement as a light-weight jockey.
B. adj. Light in weight; said esp. of coins = LIGHT a.1 1 b. Also fig.
1809. E. S. Barrett, Setting Sun, I. 39. May we not see in them the handwriting on the wall,… the end of the government of light-weight princes?
1898. Westm. Gaz., 24 June, 1/3. Some light-weight Colonial gold coins.
1898. Pall Mall Gaz., 3 Feb., 9/1. It is customary to start with the lightest-weight birds—say 4 lb. 2 oz. and rising 2 oz. each bird.
