'barefisted' originates from English, formed by the compound of the words 'bare' and 'fist' with the adjectival suffix '-ed', where 'bare' meant 'uncovered' and 'fist' meant 'a hand closed into a ball.'

'bare' changed from Old English 'bær' and Middle English 'bare', and 'fist' changed from Old English 'fyst' and Middle English 'fist'; the compound 'bare-fisted' arose in Early Modern English and eventually became the modern English adjective 'barefisted.'

Initially, it meant 'having bare fists,' and over time it has retained that basic meaning, referring to hands without gloves (especially when used for striking).