fisticuffs

1. (plural only, informal) An impromptu fight with the fists, usually between only two people.Examples: "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, […]"Synonyms: brawlinformalpluralplural-only

2. (plural only, sports, dated) Bare-knuckled boxing, a form of boxing done without boxing gloves or similar padding.Examples: "In his college days of athletic exercises, Mr. Crisparkle had known professors of the Noble Art of fisticuffs, […]"Synonyms: prizefightingdatedpluralplural-only