Meanings
noungiant-killing (countable and uncountable, plural giant-killings)
plural giant-killings
- countableuncountableThe slaying of a giant.
- alsocountableuncountablehobbiesThe defeat of a team by a much weaker opponent.
My guide tells me of Yeovil's 'considerable glove trade', which is why the giant-killing footie club, Yeovil Town FC, is known as 'The Glovers'.
2023 June 28, Stephen Roberts, “Bradshaw's Britain: Alton to Exeter”, in RAIL, number 986, page 60
Origin
From the Biblical story of David and Goliath.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Japanese 番狂わせ, 金星
- 番狂わせ (bankuruwase)defeat of a team by a much weaker opponent
- 金星 (kinboshi)defeat of a team by a much weaker opponent
Cite this entry
APA
giant-killing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/giant-killing
MLA
“giant-killing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/giant-killing. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “giant-killing,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/giant-killing.
Source: giant-killing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.