fisticuff

[ fis-ti-kuhf ]

noun

1. a cuff or blow with the fist.
2. fisticuffs, combat with the fists.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to strike or fight with the fists.

Other Words From

• fisti·cuffer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fisticuff¹

1595–1605; earlier fisty cuff. See fist ¹, -y ¹, cuff ²

Example Sentences

Just like Captain America before her, Captain Carter ends up in a one-on-one fight with Batroc where she willingly takes his bait to forego fighting with her shield and settle things with pure fisticuffs, the personal specialty of Batroc the Leaper.

From TechCrunch

Every battle brings a brand-new Marvel superhero, dubbed The Hunter, into fisticuffs alongside two previously established Marvel superheroes, including members of the Avengers, X-Men, and other ensembles.

From Ars Technica

The study, COGITATE, pits two prominent theories of consciousness against each other, through an academic fisticuffs that dates back to Newton and Einstein.

From Singularity Hub 

There was a children's party, and two boys had a fisticuff over you.

From Project Gutenberg

If his fairy-godmother had prearranged this fisticuff, she could not have done anything better so far as Killigrew was concerned.

From Project Gutenberg

An English traveler came upon two men engaged in a fisticuff fight.

From Project Gutenberg

The boys had constant fisticuff fights, and the master enjoyed and encouraged them.

From Project Gutenberg

If the end is something else, a hearty fisticuff may be the means of realizing it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bat
• blow
• punch
• shot
• swing