As nouns the difference between fisticuff and pugilism
is that
fisticuff is (rare) a fistfight while
pugilism is fighting with fists, boxing.
As a verb fisticuff
is (chiefly|humorous) to engage in a physical fight.
fisticuff English
Noun
( en noun)
(rare) A fistfight.
*1852 , Eli Bowen et al., The Pictorial Sketch-book of Pennsylvania ,
*:Every fifteen or twenty minutes there was a rush to some part, to witness a fisticuff .
(obsolete) A cuff or blow administered with the fist.
Verb
( en verb)
(chiefly, humorous) To engage in a physical fight.
(obsolete) To strike, fight or spar with the fists.
*1846 , Making of America Project, The American Whig Review ,
*:Do they fisticuff with thunder-snaggs
Derived terms
* fisticuffer
References
*
*
*Oxford English Dictionary , 2nd ed., 1989.
*Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary , 1987-1996.
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pugilism English
Noun
fighting with fists, boxing
Related terms
* (l)
* (l)
* (l)
* (l)
* (l) ((l))
References
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