Etymology 1

From < < (Amazōn). The Greeks said the word meant breastless: ἀ- (a-) "not" + (mazos) "breast" (from the Greek myth that the warrior women were so dedicated to excel in war that they amputated one breast so that it would not interfere with the strap used to hold their quiver of arrows). The Greek etymology is most probably incorrect and comes from a much older word, an Ionian Greek pronunciation of the Old Persian word , as the Amazon women were known warriors. Ionians did not aspirate the first syllable, and the word became "amazon" to the Greeks in general. The incorrect Greek etymology probably gave rise to the myth that Amazon women would amputate a breast in order to fight proficiently, an anecdote which is almost certainly not true.

Noun

1. a member of a mythical race of female warriors inhabiting the Black Sea area
2. A female warrior.
3. A tall, strong, or athletic woman.

Etymology 2

Spanish, Río Amazonas. It is common belief that the Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana fought a battle against a tribe of Tapuya savages, in which the women fought alongside the men. He no doubt derived the name from the Amazons in Greek mythology.

Adjective

Amazon

1. relating to the area around the Amazon River in South America (e.g., the Amazon Basin, the Amazon Rainforest); or referring to the river itself, The Amazon

Proper noun

Amazon

1. A river of South America that flows through Brazil for about 4000 miles to the South Atlantic.

Noun

1. an Amazon
2. a female warrior