† clunchfistn.
Obsolete.
1. A clenched fist (also figurative a ‘knock-down’ argument).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > [noun] > conclusive proof or argument
proving?c1225
demonstrationa1393
warranta1450
satisfaction1584
clunchfist1590
ergo1590
apodixis1646
ergotism1656
clinker1733
clincher1804
clencher1878
1590 R. Harvey Plaine Percevall sig. D2v They haue..made their conclusions end with a Clunchfist, right like the old description of Logicke.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Chester 189 The Clunch-fist of Logick (good to knock a man down at a blow).
2. A ‘close-fisted’ or niggardly person, a miser. (Also attributive).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > niggardliness or meanness > [noun] > niggard or mean person
nithinga1225
chinch?a1300
nigc1300
chincher1333
shut-purse1340
niggardc1384
haynec1386
nigona1400
pinchera1425
pinchpenny?c1425
pynepenya1450
pelt1511
chincherda1529
churl1535
pinchbeck1538
carl?1542
penny-father1549
nipfarthing1566
nipper?1573
holdfast1576
pinchpence1577
pinch fistc1580
pinchfart1592
shit-sticks1598
clunchfist1606
puckfist1606
sharp-nose1611
spare-good1611
crib1622
hog grubber?1626
dry-fist1633
clusterfist1652
niggardling1654
frummer1659
scrat1699
sting-hum1699
nipcheese1785
pincha1825
screw1825
wire-drawer1828
close-fist1861
penny-pincher1875
nip-skin1876
parer1887
pinch-plum1892
cheapskate1899
meanie1902
tightwad1906
stinge1914
penny-peeler1925
mean1938
stiff1967
1606 N. Breton Choice, Chance, & Change sig. I4v What will this Clunchfist leaue vpon his graue?
1737 J. Ozell tr. F. Rabelais Wks. I. liv. 369 Gold graspers, coin-gripers..ye cluntch-fist Dastards.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > niggardliness or meanness > [adjective]
gnedec900
gripplea1000
fastOE
narrow-hearteda1200
narrow?c1225
straitc1290
chinchc1300
nithinga1325
scarcec1330
clama1340
hard1340
scantc1366
sparingc1386
niggardc1400
chinchy?1406
retentivea1450
niggardousa1492
niggish1519
unliberal1533
pinching1548
dry1552
nigh1555
niggardly1560
churlish1566
squeamish1566
niggardish1567
niggard-like1567
holding1569
spare1577
handfast1578
envious1580
close-handed1585
hard-handed1587
curmudgeonly1590
parsimonious?1591
costive1594
hidebound1598
penny-pinching1600
penurious1600
strait-handed1600
club-fisted1601
dry-fisted1604
fast-handed1605
fast-fingered1607
close-fisted1608
near1611
scanting1613
carkingc1620
illiberal1623
clutch-fisteda1634
hideboundeda1640
clutch-fista1643
clunch-fisted1644
unbounteous1645
hard-fisted1646
purse-bound1652
close1654
stingy1659
tenacious1676
scanty1692
sneaking1696
gripe-handed1698
narrow-souled1699
niggardling1704
snippy1727
unindulgent1742
shabby1766
neargoinga1774
cheesemongering1781
split-farthing1787
save-all1788
picked1790
iron-fisted1794
unhandsome1800
scaly1803
nearbegoing1805
tight1805
nippit1808
nipcheese1819
cumin-splitting1822
partan-handed1823
scrimping1823
scrumptious1823
scrimpy1825
meanly1827
skinny1833
pinchfisted1837
mean1840
tight-fisted1843
screwy1844
stinty1849
cheeseparing1857
skinflinty1886
mouly1904
mingy1911
cheapskate1912
picey1937
tight-assed1961
chintzy1964
tightwad1976
1644 E. Dering Disc. Proper Sacrifice E iiij b He was an Abraham clunchfisted.
1664 J. Wilson Cheats i. iii. 8 They are..So Clunchfisted..'tis death to 'um, to pluck 'um [sc. their hands] out of their pockets.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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n.1590