fisticuff
fisticuff Lexical Profile
fisticuff Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A blow or strike delivered with the clenched fist; (in plural, fisticuffs) fighting with the fists.
"What began as a heated verbal disagreement on the sidelines nearly escalated into a full exchange of fisticuffs."
• verb
To fight with the fists, or to strike someone with the fist.
"The two rivals began to fisticuff in the courtyard before the bystanders stepped in to separate them."
Word Nuance & Usage
The singular noun 'fisticuff' is relatively rare in modern usage; the word is overwhelmingly used in the plural form 'fisticuffs' to mean a fistfight or brawl.
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the early 17th century, formed as a compound of 'fysty' (an obsolete adjective meaning relating to the fists) and 'cuff' (a blow or strike with the hand).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.