Fistful: meaning, definitions and examples

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fistful

 

[ ˈfɪstfəl ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

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

clutch, grasp, handful

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.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,324 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.