Why do you call a ring a ring if it's square.

[CougTek]

I'm talking about a boxing ring. I've never seen a circular "ring". To me, it would make more sense if we would say : "The boxers enter the square" instead of : "The boxers enter the ring".

Explanation?

 

[SteveC]

From here:

It's Square, Why is it Called a Ring?

The term "ring" comes from the original practice of having a circle of spectators form a ring around the two contestants. Often a rope would be held by the crowd to designate the area the fighters would have to move around. There weren't even stools, since the fights were usually outdoors and in isolated areas, so one of the fighter's supporters, called a "second", would kneel with one knee on the ground and the other up to form a seat for the resting fighter between rounds. Also, since boxing was illegal almost everywhere in its early days, if the "proper authorities" dropped in uninvited, the spectators simply dropped the rope and ran in every direction. The police might round up a few of the slow footed, but all the promoters would be out would be the cost of a rope.

 

[blakerwry]

a ring can be a shape, but it can also be an enclosed area or to surround something. From which I believe the term "boxing ring" comes from.

 

[CougTek]

Thanks. That's what I thought, but I still find it a bit odd.

 

[Buck]

Merriam-Webster
Main Entry: ring
Pronunciation: 'ri[ng]
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hring; akin to Old High German hring ring, Old Church Slavonic krogu circle
Date: before 12th century
1 : a circular band for holding, connecting, hanging, pulling, packing, or sealing <a key ring> <a towel ring>
2 : a circlet usually of precious metal worn on the finger
3 a : a circular line, figure, or object <smoke ring> b : an encircling arrangement <a ring of suburbs> c : a circular or spiral course -- often used in plural in the phrase run rings around
4 a (1) : an often circular space especially for exhibitions or competitions; especially : such a space at a circus (2) : a structure containing such a ring b : a square enclosure in which boxers or wrestlers contest
5 : a band believed to be composed of rocky fragments revolving around a planet (as Saturn)
6 : ANNUAL RING
7 a : an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish and often corrupt purpose (as to control a market) <a wheat ring> b : GANG
8 : the field of a political contest : RACE
9 : food in the shape of a circle
10 : an arrangement of atoms represented in formulas or models in a cyclic manner -- called also cycle
11 : a set of mathematical elements that is closed under two binary operations of which the first forms a commutative group with the set and the second is associative over the set and is distributive with respect to the first operation
12 plural a : a pair of usually rubber-covered metal rings suspended from a ceiling or crossbar to a height of approximately eight feet above the floor and used for hanging, swinging, and balancing feats in gymnastics b : an event in gymnastics competition in which the rings are used
13 : BOXING <ended his ring career>
- ring·like /'ri[ng]-lIk/ adjective

 

[flagreen]

Not to mention "ring around the neck" which is actually more cresent shaped than circular.

:mrgrn: