fistful

[ fist-fool ]

noun

, plural fist·fuls.

1. a handful:

   a fistful of pennies.

Spelling Note

See -ful.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fistful¹

First recorded in 1605–15; fist ¹ + -ful

Example Sentences

“I hadn’t been to a game there in 30 years,” Susana told me as people gathered to throw a fistful of dirt at my uncle’s coffin, which had been lowered into its grave.

From Los Angeles Times

They are reimbursed for expenses - conjuring images of them carrying around fistfuls of receipts and filling in claim sheets - but usually they will be collected from airports or stations.

From BBC

Since becoming close friends, the three do everything together — Halloween costumes, college traditions, eating fistfuls of grapes on New Year’s for good luck.

From Los Angeles Times

Ricardo Díaz, a self-employed laborer, stood Thursday with two fistfuls of live chickens he clutched by their legs.

From Seattle Times

Van de Lagemaat couldn’t just reach into the sea for a fistful of rocks to prove Pontus was real and as massive as predicted.

From Salon