Question about [一騎当千]{いっ・き・とう・せん}


One of my dictionaries defines this (actually, 一騎当千のつわもの) as

> a matchless [an extremely mighty] warrior / a warrior who is strong enough
> to fight against as many as one thousand men.

My question is why was [当]{あ}てる used as the 「とう」 instead of [倒]{たお}す? Seems
like it would have driven the point home a bit more.

(Of course I know speculation is off-topic, so etymological answers are what
I'm looking for).




Goo dictionary says that 「当千」は「千に当たる」で、千人を敵にできる、千人に匹敵する意.

That is to say, one person has fighting strength as much as one thousand
people have. This means 一人が千人に当たる. This 当たる means 相当する and it would be
appropriate for "correspond" in English words.




Goo dictionary says that 「当千」は「千に当たる」で、千人を敵にできる、千人に匹敵する意.

That is to say, one person has fighting strength as much as one thousand
people have. This means 一人が千人に当たる. This 当たる means 相当する and it would be
appropriate for "correspond" in English words.

