fist v OED ~ v¹ 3 (1607-1870) now esp naut. To grasp firmly with clenched fingers or fist.
   1898 Trade Review "The Old Oaken Shutters": No later life's pleassures can suit me as well,/As the joy of those mornings we fisted those shutters. [1904] 1982 BURKE (ed Kirwin) 32 "The Night We Played Cards for the Little Boneen": Then Galwan fisted his pig by the tail. [1928] ibid 39 "The Sealers Gained the Strike": With happy hearts they fisted bags,/as lightly they did trip. 1977 MOAKLER 30 The skipper turned us out to shorten sail. / We fisted canvas in the sodden pall.

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