noun / verb
kayo
kay-OH/keɪˈoʊ/
Knocking an opponent out of a fight or contest.
The boxer wins by a kayo as the referee checks his fallen opponent.
Etymology
K.O. stands for knockout, from boxing's phrase 'knock out of time.' The original idea was a blow that left an opponent unable to recover within the referee's count.
More examples
- His opponent was kayoed by the final punch.
- The crowd cheered the unexpected kayo.
- The favorite threatened to kayo the challenger early.
Forms
kayo · kayos · kayoed · kayoing
Similar words
- knockout
- Kayo is an informal spelling of KO, short for knockout.
- defeat
- Defeat is any victory over an opponent; kayo specifically means render unable to continue, especially in boxing.