Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913
Fist
Fist (fĭst), n. [OE. fist, fust, AS. fȳst; akin to D. vuist, OHG. fūst, G. faust, and prob. to L. pugnus, Gr. πυγμή fist, πύξ with the fist. Cf. Pugnacious, Pigmy.] 1. The hand with the fingers doubled into the palm; the closed hand, especially as clinched tightly for the purpose of striking a blow.
Who grasp the earth and heaven with my fist. Herbert.
2. The talons of a bird of prey. [Obs.]
More light than culver in the falcon's fist. Spenser.
3. (print.) the index mark [☞], used to direct special attention to the passage which follows.
Hand over fist (Naut.), rapidly; hand over hand.
Fist, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fisting.] 1. To strike with the fist. Dryden.
2. To gripe with the fist. [Obs.] Shak.