/fuyst/ , n.
1. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. a small mongrel dog, esp. one that is ill-tempered; cur; mutt.
v.i.
2. South Midland U.S. to prance or strut about: Look at him feist around in his new clothes.
Also, fice, fist .
[ 1760-70; cf. (from 16th cent.) fisting hound, fisting cur, as contemptuous epithets for any kind of dog (prp. of fist to break wind, late ME; cf. OE fisting breaking wind, MLG vist, G Fist fart); (def. 2) perh. back formation from FEISTY ]