fistful

American

[fist-fool] / ˈfɪst fʊl /

noun

plural

fistfuls

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.

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

From the 17th to 19th centuries, spaghetti was a popular street food in Naples, typically enjoyed with one’s bare hands in large fistfuls.

From Salon

However Douglas' low-slung jackalling ability, aided by yoga stretching that he has done since he was a teenager,, external has impressed this season and delivered a fistful of turnovers.

From BBC

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