mutton fist
English
Alternative forms
- mutton-fist
- muttonfist
Pronunciation
Audio (AU) (file)
Noun
mutton fist (plural mutton fists)
- (slang, archaic) A big brawny fist or hand.
- 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis; John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] (please specify the satire number)”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: Printed for Jacob Tonson […], OCLC 80026745:
- Will he, who saw the soldier's mutton-fist, And saw thee mauled, appear within the list […] ?
- 1821, William Hazlitt, "Character of Cobbett", in Table-Talk
- One has no notion of him as making use of a fine pen, but a great mutton-fist; his style stuns his readers, and he 'fillips the ear of the public with a threeman beetle'.
- 1874, T.H.G. (author's initials, presumably), "Recollections of our Stale Contributor" in Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes Volume 25
- The little gentleman saw the keeper's great mutton fist very near his head, and thought a second time; he did not like the look of that mutton fist.
'No, keeper,' said he, don't hit me - shake me.'
- The little gentleman saw the keeper's great mutton fist very near his head, and thought a second time; he did not like the look of that mutton fist.
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