Boxer? From boxing? Absolutely!

I used to be a technical translator in Berlin (if you see any German 
construction equipment, I probably wrote the manual. Scary, huh?); I think the 
boxer=boxing version makes a lot of sense because "boxen" means (in German)

a) speakers ('geile Boxen, wa?')
b) the pit (as in car racing)
c) to box, as in boxing, the sport

Since "Boxer" means (in German) either a boxer (the guy who punches people) or 
a horizontally opposed engine, I think the derivation is right on. My .02. 
BTW, if anyone has any VW translation questions (names of parts, etc.) I can 
try my best.

- Anton

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>From: 	vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu on behalf of Maher, Steve (SD-MS)
Sent: 	February 01, 1996 10:57 AM

=========================================================================
Date:         
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         
Subject:      Re: 'Boxer' engine

>>The origin of the term is unclear.
>
>I thought it was because the pistons' movements are reminiscent of the
>fists of two boxers pounding each other. <?>

I saw that idea in a magazine review... sounds contrived and farfetched,
to say the least. The word comes from the German language, doesn't it?
Probably bears no resemblence to the English definition...