feist

or fist

[ fahyst ]

noun

Also fice, fyce [fahys] /faɪs/ .Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. a small mongrel dog, especially one that is ill-tempered; cur; mutt.

verb (used without object)

South Midland U.S. to prance or strut about: Look at him feist around in his new clothes.

Origin of feist

First recorded in 1760–70; compare (from 16th century) fisting hound, fisting cur, as contemptuous epithets for any kind of dog (present participle of fist “to break wind,” late Middle English; compare Old English fisting “breaking wind,” Middle Low German vīst, German Fist “fart”); def. 2 is perhaps a back formation from feisty

How to use feist in a sentence

Ef you had the strength to git thar, the Tranthams would shoot you down like a fice dog.
The Escape of Mr. Trimm | Irvin S. Cobb
She was a prettier byby in the fice than any o' the others—sech a lydylike byby she was—we never 'ad no bother with her!
Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 103, August 20, 1892 | Various
That troop has a miserable runt of a fice, and he's smart the same as such pups often are.
John Ermine of the Yellowstone | Frederic Remington
Why had Douglas leaped to the defense of Jackson in this community, like a fice coming to the aid of a mastiff?
Children of the Market Place | Edgar Lee Masters
"'E 'ad a fice like a fifth act at the Surrey," agreed the other.
The King of Diamonds | Louis Tracy

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