Discussion Groups / British English / May 2008

As does the OED (most quotations snipt):

   A. adj.
   3. 'Relating to the licentious manners of Corinth' (J.),
      profligate; in 19th c. use: Given to elegant dissipation.

   4. (U.S.) Yachting. Amateur.

      1885 Harper's Mag. June 83/1 On the yacht of a friend who
      was fond of sailing Corinthian races.

   B. n.    
   2. (From the proverbial wealth, luxury, and licentiousness
      of ancient Corinth):
      {dag}a. A wealthy man; a
      profligate idler; a gay, licentious man; also, a
      shameless or 'brazen-faced' fellow (cf. A. 1c). Obs.
   
      b. A 'swell'; a man of fashion about town.
         'In the third decade of the present century the word,
         both as a substantive and an adjective, was at the
         height of its popularity' (Latham).

         1819 MOORE Tom Crib's Mem. 9 (Farmer) 'Twas diverting
         to see, as one ogled around, How Corinthians and
         Commoners mixed on the ground.  
 
      c. A wealthy amateur of sport who rides his own horses,
         steers his own yacht, etc.; esp. in U.S. an amateur
         yachtsman.
   
      Hence Co{sm}rinthianism.

John Briggs wrote...

Why so curious? Do you have any evidence for a particular link between
Corinth (either in biblical or classical times) and the ideal of amateur
sport of any other variety than /to corinthiazesthai/ (fornication)?