From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfistfist /fɪst/ ●●○ noun [countable] 1 HBHthe hand when it is tightly closed, so that the fingers are curled in towards the palm. People close their hand in a fist when they are angry or are going to hit someone She held the money tightly in her fist. Malcolm clenched his fist (=held his fist very tightly closed) angrily. Dooley stood up and shook his fist in her face. Varney slammed his fist down onto the table so hard the dishes jumped. → ham-fisted, tight-fisted, → hand over fist at hand1(35)2 → make a good/bad fist of something
Examples from the Corpus
fist• Is a little sleeplessness and fist pounding so very out of the way?• He would hammer the table with one great fist.• He clenched his fists even tighter.• He would remember only the steam and the heat and the electricity in his fists and forearms.• His hands were clenched into fists.• This is the archetypal steel fist in a velvet glove.• The stick and the fist backed up the array of legal powers.• Other players pumped their fists or otherwise exhorted the fans.shook ... fist• Then he spoke roughly once more, shoved the teeth deeper into his pocket and shook his fist at her.• Asshe shook his fist, and advanced threateningly.• Over on her cot, Frank shook an enthusiastic fist in the air toward Oliver.Origin fist Old English fyst 