fist

¹ American  

[fist] / fɪst /

noun

1. the hand closed tightly, with the fingers doubled into the palm.

2. Informal. the hand.

3. Informal. a person's handwriting.

4. Printing. index.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make (one's hand) into a fist.

2. to grasp in the fist.

fist ² American  

[fahyst] / faɪst /

noun

1. feist.

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fist British  

/ fɪst /

noun

1. a hand with the fingers clenched into the palm, as for hitting

2. Also called: fistful.  the quantity that can be held in a fist or hand

3. an informal word for hand index

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verb

1. (tr) to hit with the fist

fist Idioms  

1. see hand over fist.

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Etymology

Origin of fist

before 900; Middle English; Old English fȳst; cognate with German Faust fist; perhaps akin to five

Explanation

Want to hit a punching bag? First you need to curl your fingers into your palm to make a fist, or a clenched hand. You might make a fist and bump it against your friend's as a greeting, or use it to clutch something tightly: "She held the balloon in one fist, and an ice cream cone in the other." Fists are also used to punch hard, and a fist fight is a serious physical altercation. When we trace this word back to its origin, we find a closely related root meaning "five," for the five fingers of a hand.

Example Sentences

Prosecutors say El Hishri ran the prison with an iron fist, with special responsibility over the women's section.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Hoover was competent and corrupt, famously controlling the FBI with an iron fist.

From Salon • May 8, 2026

There’s a reason fist pumps are rarely seen on the Alex Trebek Stage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

So, while the growers were losing money hand over fist, housing developers were coming through with godfather offers to buy them out, convert them to row housing, and sell, sell, sell.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

I coughed into my fist, but that only caused more grit to invade my throat.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• clenched fist
• hand
• paw