What's a Pugilistic Stance?

Term of the week: Pugilistic attitude (posture) The post-mortem, “boxer-like” body posture of flexed elbows and knees and clenched fists, caused by the shrinkage of body tissues and muscle due to dehydration caused by heating.

What is a pugilistic stance mean?

According to the Medical Dictionary, a pugilistic stance is "caused by high-temperatures in fire, resulting in muscle stiffening and shortening and can occur even if the person was dead before the fire."

Is pugilistic a real word?

If you're pugilistic, you're a boxer — or you just like to fight. ... Another word for a boxer or a fighter is a pugilist, which comes from the Latin pugil, "boxer or fist fighter." This root is also related to the word pugnus, "fist," and pugnacious, "combative or fond of fighting."