Link Centre Dictionary

amazon

ama·zon

UK/ˈæm.ə.zən/ US/ˈæm.əˌzɑn/ fairly common

noun

1.
2.

(Greek mythology) one of a nation of women warriors of Scythia (who burned off the right breast in order to use a bow and arrow more effectively)

3.

a major South American river; flows into the South Atlantic; the world''s 2nd longest river (4000 miles)

Synonyms
4.

Origin

From Middle English, from Latin, from Ancient Greek Ἀμαζών (Amazṓn); perhaps Ionian Greek pronunciation of Old Persian *hamazan- (“warrior”), as the Amazon women were known warriors. A popular folk etymology, of Ancient Greek provenance, claims that the word derives from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + μαζός (mazós, “breast”), referencing the belief that Amazons cut off their right breast so that it would not hinder their ability to fire a bow or throw a spear.

Phrases

  • orange-winged amazon
  • yellow-headed amazon
  • yellow-naped amazon

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.