fisticuffs
/ˈfɪstɪkʌfs
/plural noun
Fighting with the fists: the result was an outbreak of fisticuffs...
- Every dispute from fisticuffs in the street to a battle in a grand war needs its goodies and baddies.
- Car owners have also become so touchy and fussy about the parking space that any encroachment leads to heated arguments and bouts of fisticuffs.
- The incident began with words in a bar, with an alleged insult to some women, then a confrontation with fisticuffs and bottles being thrown.
Origin
Early 17th century: probably from obsolete fisty 'relating to the fists or to fist fighting' + cuff2.