pugnus (noun M) : root pug-; v. pugil, pugno.
* A fist: pugnus a punctione, id est percussu dicitur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 219 Müll.: manum plane comprimere pugnumque facere,Cic. Ac. 2, 47, 145: certare pugnis, calcibus, unguibus,id. Tusc. 5, 27, 77; cf. Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 23, § 56: pugnis contundere aliquem,Plaut. Bacch. 3, 3, 46: pugnum impingere alicui in os,id. Rud. 3, 4, 5: pugnis onerare,id. Am. 1, 1, 72: obtundere,id. ib. 2, 1, 59: pugnos in ventrem ingerere,Ter. Phorm. 5, 7, 95: pugnum ducere alicui,to give one a blow with the fist,Dig. 47, 10, 4: percusserit proximum suum pugno,Vulg. Exod. 21, 18.—Poet., of boxing: neque pugno Neque segni pede victus,Hor. C. 3, 12, 8; 1, 12, 26: Castor gaudet equis, ovo prognatus eodem Pugnis,id. S. 2, 1, 27.
* Transf., as a measure, a fistful, handful, Cato, R. R. 82; Marc. Emp. 8 med.: pugnus aeris,Sen. Ira, 3, 33, 1.

s. TLL