- athlete
- 1520s, from L. athleta, from Gk. athletes "contestant in the games," agent noun from athlein "to contest for a prize," rel. to athlos "a contest" and athlon "a prize," of unknown origin. Before 1750, always in L. form. In this sense, O.E. had plegmann. Athlete's foot first recorded 1928, for an ailment that has been around much longer.
- athletic
- 1630s, "pertaining to an athlete," from L. athleticus, from Gk. athletikos, from athletes (see athlete). Meaning "strong of body; vigorous; lusty; robust" [Johnson, who spells it athletick] is from 1650s. Related: Athleticism (1870); athletics (c.1730).
- gamer
- 1620s, "an athlete," agent noun from game. Meaning "one devoted to playing video or computer games" is attested from 1999.
- Fosbury flop
- high-jumping technique, 1968, in ref. to U.S. athlete Dick Fosbury (b.1947), who used it to win the 1968 Olympic gold medal.
- scrub (n.)
- "brush, shrubs," late 14c., "low, stunted tree," variant of shrobbe (see shrub), perhaps infl. by a Scandinavian word (cf. Dan. dial. skrub "a stunted tree, brushwood"). Collective sense is attested from 1805. Transferred sense of "mean, insignificant fellow" is from 1580s; U.S. sports meaning "athlete not on the varsity team" is recorded from 1892.