Is there a difference between a fist full and a fistful?

[Bucky]

When I think about about it, having a fist full of sand, gold, chocolate mousse, or whatever means that you've grabbed something and your clutch can barely contain the quantity of it. But all the time I see the word "fistful of x" like it's the same idea. Only on reflection, "fistful" seems like it would mean full of fists. Same thing for handful, eyeful. Am I breaking this down right, or am I just making up excuses to criticize someone else's syntax?

[MiddleFingerMom]

1. I never feel...

.
...fistful.
.
But sometime I DO feel fist full.
.
.
.
.
.
Or, you know... um... what I IMAGINE fist full feels like.
.

[nuxvomica]

2. They are quite different

"Fist full" should only be used when an actual fist is in the picture, as in "Bucky had a fist full of chocolate mousse." In that example, Bucky would likely have to wash his hand (ie., fist) after he was done with the chocolate mousse. To simply describe an imprecise quantity of something, you would use "fistful" as in "Bucky ate a fistful of chocolate mousse." The distinction is important, because the same sentence using "fist full" would mean that Bucky had eaten the fist itself and possibly some amount of the chocolate mousse it contained as well.