Fists

Fists are the hands made into a closed shape by curling the fingers toward the palm and wrapping the thumb over or across the fingers. This configuration creates a compact tool for gripping, striking, or signaling. The fist’s structure relies on the intrinsic muscles and tendons of the hand, with the knuckles bearing weight when the hand is clenched.

In daily life a fist is used for grasping and manipulating small objects, tools, and sports equipment. In competitive contexts, fists are central to many striking disciplines, where the knuckles are used to deliver blows; protective measures such as hand wraps, gloves, and training under supervision reduce injury risk. The use of fists also appears in non-striking activities, such as signaling intent or emphasis in communication.

Culturally, the fist has strong symbolic meanings. The raised fist has been used as a gesture of solidarity and resistance in political movements. The fist bump is a casual social gesture denoting agreement or greeting, particularly in Western contexts.

Etymology traces the term to older forms of English for a closed hand, and the concept appears in many languages with related terms for a clenched hand. The fist is a basic unit of human manual function and a familiar symbol in art, politics, and sport.