Closed hands with fingers curled tightly into a ball, often used for fighting or expressing anger.
From Old English 'fyst' and Old Norse 'fústr,' related to words meaning 'fold' or 'grasp,' showing how this body-based word is ancient across Germanic languages.
A clenched fist has been a symbol of power and resistance across cultures—from Ancient Rome's gladiators to modern protests—making it one of the most universally recognized human gestures.
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