fist

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the signature style of a Morse code operator

   The enemy was able to identify the ship by the radio operator's distinct fist.

2. 2
   noun

   a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm, as for hitting

   Before punching, the fighter made a fist.

3. 3
   noun

   A hand with the fingers clenched or curled inward.

   The boxer's fists rained down on his opponent in the last round.

4. 4
   noun

   The talons of a bird of prey.

   More light then Culver in the Faulcons fist.

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”).

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