Fistful: meaning, definitions and examples
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fistful
[ ˈfɪstfəl ]
amount of something
A fistful refers to the quantity of something that can be held tightly in the hand, usually enough to fill the palm of the hand when closed. It conveys a sense of a limited but substantial amount of a substance or object, often used in informal contexts.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- He grabbed a fistful of dirt.
- She offered me a fistful of candies.
- The child held a fistful of grass.
- I need a fistful of patience to deal with this situation.
Translations
Translations of the word "fistful" in other languages:
🇵🇹 punhado
🇮🇳 मुठ्ठी
🇩🇪 Handvoll
🇮🇩 segenggam
🇺🇦 жменя
🇵🇱 garść
🇯🇵 ひとつかみ
🇫🇷 poignée
🇪🇸 puñado
🇹🇷 yumruk dolusu
🇰🇷 주먹만큼
🇸🇦 قبضة
🇨🇿 hrst
🇸🇰 hrst
🇨🇳 一把
🇸🇮 pest
🇮🇸 húfa
🇰🇿 қол
🇬🇪 ხელი
🇦🇿 əlinin dolusu
🇲🇽 puñado
Etymology
The word 'fistful' is a compound made from the word 'fist,' which originated from the Old English 'fist,' meaning a closed hand, and 'ful,' which is a suffix meaning 'full of' or 'having.' The origins of 'fist' can be traced back to Proto-Germanic '*fistwō,' which also means 'fist.' The combination reflects a physical representation of holding something in a closed hand, indicating quantity. The term has been used in English since the 16th century, illustrating both the literal action of grasping and the figurative notion of abundance, often implying a more significant quantity than one might expect from a single closed hand.