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Amʹazon

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A horsewoman, a fighting or masculine woman. The word means without breast, or rather, “deprived of a pap.” According to Grecian story, there was a nation of women in Africa of a very warlike character. There were no men in the nation; and if a boy was born, it was either killed or sent to his father, who lived in some neighbouring state. The girls had their right breasts burnt off, that they might the better draw the bow.

“These dreadful Amazons, gallant viragoes who . . carried victorious arms … into Syria and Asia Minor.”—J. E. Chambliss: David Livingstone (Introduction, p. 24).

 

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Amanda
Amarant
Amaranth
Amaryllis
Amasis (Ring of)
Amati
Amaurot (Greek, the shadowy or unknown place)
Amaurote
Amazement
Amazia
Amazon
Amazonia
Amazonian Chin (An)
Ambassador
Amber
Ambérabad
Ambes-as
Ambi-dexter
Ambition
Ambree (Mary)
Ambrose (St.)

See Also:

Amazon