n. & v.
n. 1 a tightly closed hand. 2 sl. handwriting (writes a good fist; I know his fist). 3 sl. a hand (give us your fist).
v.tr. 1 strike with the fist. 2 Naut. handle (a sail, an oar, etc.). make a good (or poor etc.) fist (foll. by at, of) colloq. make a good (or poor etc.) attempt at. fisted adj. (also in comb.). fistful n. (pl. -fuls).
[ OE fyst f. WG ]