Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

fisticuffs

/ˈfɪs.tɪˌkəfs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.30 in modern English

Syllables: fis-ti-cuffs
IPA: /ˈfɪs.tɪˌkəfs/

21

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

plural of fisticuff

noun

An impromptu fight with the fists, usually between only two people.

Informal

noun

Bare-knuckled boxing, a form of boxing done without boxing gloves or similar padding.

Dated

Example Sentences

"So he obſerves that all ſimple Governments are apt to ſome evil that is peculiar and conſequential to their Nature, as he inſtanceth in a Kingdom changed into Monarchy abſolute, by which he means that which we now call Tyranny; Ariſtocracy into Oligarchy, and Democracy into Beſtial Chirocracy, when the Seditious of people prevail more by Fiſticuffs than reaſon: […]"
"People who share a cell in the Basti[l]le […] if they do not immediately fall to fisticuffs, will find some possible ground of compromise."
"[…], his head all scarred with the sticks and fisticuffs which he had got in the taverns at Utrecht, […]"
"In his college days of athletic exercises, Mr. Crisparkle had known professors of the Noble Art of fisticuffs, […]"

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈfɪs.tɪˌkəfs/
British English: /ˈfɪs.tɪ.kʌfs/

Usage

Frequently Paired Words

fist fisticuff fisticuffer boxing fighting

Synonyms

brawl fight fistfight punch-up prizefighting boxing pugilism slugfest

Questions

How do you pronounce fisticuffs?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfɪs.tɪˌkəfs/.
What does fisticuffs mean?: plural of fisticuff

How to pronounce fisticuffs

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “fisticuffs”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈfɪs.tɪˌkəfs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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