jack dempsey
jack dempsey Lexical Profile
• noun
American An iconic American professional boxer who held the world heavyweight championship from 1919 to 1926, renowned for his aggressive fighting style and exceptional punching power.
"Regarded as a major cultural icon of the 1920s, Jack Dempsey drew some of the first million-dollar gates in the history of sports."
A species of freshwater cichlid fish native to Mexico and Central America, characterized by its striking iridescent coloring and notably aggressive, territorial behavior.
"The aquarium enthusiast had to keep the Jack Dempsey in a separate tank to prevent it from attacking the smaller, more docile fish."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the fish species, it is typically capitalized as 'Jack Dempsey' due to its eponymous origin, though it occasionally appears in lowercase.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The cichlid fish was named after William Harrison 'Jack' Dempsey (1895–1983), an iconic American heavyweight boxing champion, because of the fish's strong facial features and highly aggressive, pugnacious nature.