ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fist

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈfɪst// UK //fˈɪst// fist Informal Slang

n. a hand with the fingers closed tightly into the palm. You usually make this shape when you are angry or want to hit something.

n. the hand with the fingers doubled into the palm and the thumb held tight against them. Often associated with aggression, physical combat, or a gesture of solidarity.


SIMPLE

He clenched his fist in anger.

CONTEXTUAL

The boxer raised his fist in victory after the referee announced the final score.

COMPLEX

She pounded her fist against the heavy oak door, hoping someone inside would hear her over the sound of the storm.

Etymology 1

From Middle English fist, from Old English fȳst (“fist”), from Proto-West Germanic *fūsti, of uncertain origin. Cognates Cognate with Yola fest, hist (“fist”), Saterland Frisian Fäste, Fääste (“fist”), Central Franconian Fuus (“fist”), Cimbrian bòista, vòista (“fist”), Dutch vuist (“fist”), German Faust (“fist”), German Low German Fuust (“fist”), Luxembourgish Fauscht (“fist”), Yiddish פֿויסט (foyst, “fist”). More at five.

Etymology 2

From Middle English fisten, fiesten, from Old English fistan ("to break wind gently"; supported by Old English fisting (“breaking wind”)), from Proto-Germanic fistaz (“breaking wind, fart”), from Proto-Germanic fīsaną (“to break or discharge wind, fart”), from Proto-Indo-European (s)peys- (“to blow, breathe”). Cognate with Dutch veest (“a fart”), Low German fīsten (“to break wind”), German Fist (“a quiet wind”), Fisten (“breaking wind”), Swedish fisa (“to fart”), Latin spīrō (“breathe, blow”).

Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'clench', 'double', or 'shake'.

Idioms4 entries

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