subs. (pugilists’).—A prize fighter.

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  ENGLISH SYNONYMS.—Basher; bruiser; dukester; fistite; knight of the fist; gemman of the fancy; milling-cove; pug; puncher; scrapper; slasher; slogger; slugger; sparring-bloke.

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  1823.  BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. HITTITES—boxers and ring-goers assembled.

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  1860.  H. H. DIXON (‘The Druid’), The Post and the Paddock, ‘The Fight for the Belt.’

        And the Sherwood Ranger, bold Bendigo,
  Is on training no more intent;
But the trout full well that ex-HITTITE know,
  On a summer’s eve, in the Trent.

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