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fistful

American  
[fist-fool] / ˈfɪst fʊl /

noun

plural

fistfuls

  1. a handful.

    a fistful of pennies.

Spelling

See -ful.

Etymology

Origin of fistful

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Grace reached into a drawer, grabbed a fistful of Ugandan shilling notes, and handed over the cash.

From The Wall Street Journal

When Danny came out into the alley with his own fistful of nails, I gave James a strained, apologetic smile.

From Literature

The Shah boarded a plane, scooping a fistful of Iranian dirt on his way out.

From The Wall Street Journal

She was holding a big piece of fabric in one hand and a fistful of straw in the other.

From Literature

Banks, investment funds, governments, and insurance companies bought them by the fistful.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.