πυγμή, πυγμης, ἡ (πύξ, from ΠΥΚΩ, Latinpungo, pupugi (pugnus; O. H. G. 'fust', English 'fist'; cf. Curtius, § 384)), from Homer down, the Sept. for ΰΖπΐψεσ (Exo_21:18; Isa_58:4), the fist: πυγμή νίπτεσθαι τάς χεῖρας, to wash the hands with the fist, i. e. so that one hand is rubbed with the clenched fist of the other (R. V. marginal reading (after Theoph., others) up to the elbow; but cf. Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, 2:11), Mar_7:3 (where Tdf. πυκνά, see πυκνός). (Cf. James Morison's Commentary at the passage.)

πυγμή pygmē 1x together with the forearm, or, with care, carefully, Mar_7:3

πυγμή , -ῆς , ἡ , [in LXX : Exo_21:18 , Isa_58:4 ( H106 ) * ;] the fist: πυγμῇ νίψασθαι τ . χῖρας (Τ , πυκνά ; Vg ., Goth., Copt., crebro), to wash the hands with the fist (diligently, R , txt .; up to the elbow, R , mg .; the exact meaning is doubtful; v. Swete , in l ): Mar_7:3 .†

πυγμή [page 559] literally fist (Suid : σύγκλεισις δακτύλων ) : cf. the cognate pugnus, pungo. pitgio (Boisacq, p. 827). We are unable to throw any light from our sources on the difficult πυγμῇ of Mar_7:3 B, for which ΰ substitutes πυκνά (Vg crebro ), but we may quote Palladius Hist . Lausiaca c. 55 νίψασθαι τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τοὺς πόδας πυγμῇ ὕδατι ψυχροτάτῳ , to which our attention has been drawn. According to Schulthess ( ZNTW xxi. (1922) p. 233) the expression is best explained as a lightening of the regular ritualistic washing, by a simple rubbing over with the hand, or a dry washing. For such a practice, under the name of ητσ , he refers to Krauss Archδol . I. 210, 269 N. 6. The Islamic custom of ablution with dust or sand when water cannot be procured is described in Hughes Dict, of Islam s.v . Ablution or Tayammum.

πυγμή πυγμή, ἡ, [Etym: πύξ] "a fist", Lat. pugnus, πυγμῇ νικήσαντα having conquered "with the fist, in boxing", Il. ; later, πυγμὴν νικᾶν Eur. ; πυγμᾶς ἄεθλα Pind. πυγμῇ νίψασθαι in NTest. , is interpr. = πύκα, "diligently;" or = πυκνά, "often, with;" cf. πυκνός B. II. and III. a measure of length, "the distance from the elbow to the knuckles, = 18" δάκτυλοι, about 13 1/2 inches.

πυγμή, -ῆς, ἡ [in LXX: Exo.21:18, Isa.58:4 (אֶגְרֹף) * ;] the fist: πυγμῇ νίψασθαι τ. χῖρας (Τ, πυκνά; Vg., Goth., Copt., crebro), to wash the hands with the fist (diligently, R, txt.; up to the elbow, R, mg.; the exact meaning is doubtful; see Swete, in l): Mrk.7:3.† (AS)