Chapter 707

-- Hand over hand , Hand over fist , by passing the hands alternately one before or above another; as, to climb hand over hand ; also, rapidly; as, to come up with a chase hand over hand . -- Hand over head , negligently; rashly; without seeing what one does. [Obs.] Bacon . -- Hand running , consecutively; as, he won ten times hand running . -- Hand off! keep off! forbear! no interference or meddling! -- Hand to hand , in close union; in close fight; as, a hand to hand contest. Dryden . -- Heavy hand , severity or oppression. -- In hand . (a) Paid down. "A considerable reward in hand , and . . . a far greater reward hereafter." Tillotson . (b) In preparation; taking place. Chaucer . "Revels . . . in hand ." Shak . (c) Under consideration, or in the course of transaction; as, he has the business in hand . -- In one's hand ∨ hands . (a) In one's possession or keeping. (b) At one's risk, or peril; as, I took my life in my hand . -- Laying on of hands , a form used in consecrating to office, in the rite of confirmation, and in blessing persons. -- Light hand , gentleness; moderation. -- Note of hand , a promissory note. -- Off hand , Out of hand , forthwith; without delay, hesitation, or difficulty; promptly. "She causeth them to be hanged up out of hand ." Spenser . -- Off one's hands , out of one's possession or care. -- On hand , in present possession; as, he has a supply of goods on hand . -- On one's hands , in one's possession care, or management. -- Putting the hand under the thigh , an ancient Jewish ceremony used in swearing. -- Right hand , the place of honor, power, and strength. -- Slack hand , idleness; carelessness; inefficiency; sloth. -- Strict hand , severe discipline; rigorous government. -- To bear a hand (Naut) , to give help quickly; to hasten. -- To bear in hand , to keep in expectation with false pretenses. [Obs.] Shak . -- To be hand and glove, ∨ in glove with . See under Glove . -- To be on the mending hand , to be convalescent or improving. -- To bring up by hand , to feed (an infant) without suckling it. -- To change hand . See Change . -- To change hands , to change sides, or change owners. Hudibras . -- To clap the hands , to express joy or applause, as by striking the palms of the hands together. -- To come to hand , to be received; to be taken into possession; as, the letter came to hand yesterday. -- To get hand , to gain influence. [Obs.]

Appetites have . . . got such a hand over them. Baxter.

-- To got one's hand in , to make a beginning in a certain work; to become accustomed to a particular business. -- To have a hand in , to be concerned in; to have a part or concern in doing; to have an agency or be employed in. -- To have in hand . (a) To have in one's power or control. Chaucer . (b) To be engaged upon or occupied with. -- To have one's hands full , to have in hand al that one can do, or more than can be done conveniently; to be pressed with labor or engagements; to be surrounded with difficulties. -- To have, ∨ get , the (higher) upper hand , to have, or get, the better of another person or thing. -- To his hand , To my hand , etc. , in readiness; already prepared. "The work is made to his hands ." Locke . -- To hold hand , to compete successfully or on even conditions. [Obs.] Shak . -- To lay hands on , to seize; to assault. -- To lend a hand , to give assistance. -- To lift, ∨ put forth , the hand against , to attack; to oppose; to kill. -- To live from hand to mouth , to obtain food and other necessaries as want compels, without previous provision. -- To make one's hand , to gain advantage or profit. -- To put the hand unto , to steal. Ex. xxii. 8. -- To put the last, ∨ finishing , hand to , to make the last corrections in; to complete; to perfect. -- To set the hand to , to engage in; to undertake.

That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to . Deut. xxiii. 20.

-- To stand one in hand , to concern or affect one. -- To strike hands , to make a contract, or to become surety for another's debt or good behavior. -- To take in hand . (a) To attempt or undertake . (b) To seize and deal with; as, he took him in hand . -- To wash the hands of , to disclaim or renounce interest in, or responsibility for, a person or action; as, to wash one's hands of a business. Matt. xxvii. 24. -- Under the hand of , authenticated by the handwriting or signature of; as, the deed is executed under the hand and seal of the owner.

Hand <Xpage=667>

Hand (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Handed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Handing .] 1. To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as, he handed them the letter .

2. To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct; as, to hand a lady into a carriage .

3. To manage; as, I hand my oar . [Obs.]

Prior.

4. To seize; to lay hands on. [Obs.]

Shak.

5. To pledge by the hand; to handfast. [R.]

6. (Naut.) To furl; -- said of a sail.

Totten.

To hand down , to transmit in succession, as from father to son, or from predecessor to successor; as, fables are handed down from age to age; to forward to the proper officer (the decision of a higher court); as, the Clerk of the Court of Appeals handed down its decision. -- To hand over , to yield control of; to surrender; to deliver up.

Hand <Xpage=667>

Hand , v. i. To co\'94perate. [Obs.]

Massinger.

Handbarrow <Xpage=667>

Hand"bar"row (?) , n. A frame or barrow, without a wheel, carried by hand.

Handbill <Xpage=667>

Hand"bill` (?) , n. 1. A loose, printed sheet, to be distributed by hand.

2. A pruning hook. [Usually written hand bill .]

Handbook <Xpage=667>

Hand"book` (?) , n. [ Hand + book ; cf. AS. handb<?/c , or G. handbuch .] A book of reference, to be carried in the hand; a manual; a guidebook.

Handbreadth <Xpage=667>

Hand"breadth` (?) , n. A space equal to the breadth of the hand; a palm.

Ex. xxxvii. 12.

Handcart <Xpage=667>

Hand"cart` , n. A cart drawn or pushed by hand.

Handcloth <Xpage=667>

Hand"cloth` (?; 115) , n. A handkerchief.

Handcraft <Xpage=667>

Hand"craft` (?) , n. Same as Handicraft .

Handcraftsman <Xpage=667>

Hand"crafts`man (?) , n. ; pl. -men (<?/) . A handicraftsman.

Handcuff <Xpage=667>

Hand"cuff` (?) , n. [AS. handcops ; hand hand + cosp , cops , fetter. The second part was confused with E. cuffs ,] A fastening, consisting of an iron ring around the wrist, usually connected by a chain with one on the other wrist; a manacle; -- usually in the plural.

<page="668"> Page 668

Handcuff <Xpage=668>

Hand"cuff` (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Handcuffed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Handcuffing .] To apply handcuffs to; to manacle.

Hay (1754).

Handed <Xpage=668>

Hand"ed , a. 1. With hands joined; hand in hand.

Into their inmost bower, Handed they went. Milton.

2. Having a peculiar or characteristic hand.

As poisonous tongued as handed . Shak.

&hand; Handed is used in composition in the sense of having (such or so many) hands ; as, bloody- handed ; free- handed ; heavy- handed ; left- handed ; single- handed .

Hander <Xpage=668>

Hand"er (?) , n. One who hands over or transmits; a conveyer in succession.

Dryden.

Handfast <Xpage=668>

Hand"fast` (?) , n. 1. Hold; grasp; custody; power of confining or keeping. [Obs.]

Shak.

2. Contract; specifically, espousal. [Obs.]

Handfast <Xpage=668>

Hand"fast` , a. Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands. [Obs.]

Bale.

Handfast <Xpage=668>

Hand"fast` , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Handfasted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Handfasting .] To pledge; to bind; to betroth by joining hands, in order to cohabitation, before the celebration of marriage. [Obs.] <-- ##?? to allow cohabitation? -->

Handfast <Xpage=668>

Hand"fast` , n. [G. handfest ; hand hand + fest strong. See Fast .] Strong; steadfast. [R.]

Carlyle.

Handfastly <Xpage=668>

Hand"fast`ly , adv. In a handfast or publicly pledged manner. [Obs.]

Holinshed.

Handfish <Xpage=668>

Hand"fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The frogfish.

Handful <Xpage=668>

Hand"ful (?) , n. ; pl. Hand flus (#) . [AS. handfull .] 1. As much as the hand will grasp or contain.

Addison.

2. A hand's breadth; four inches. [Obs.]

Knap the tongs together about a handful from the bottom. Bacon.

3. A small quantity.

This handful of men were tied to very hard duty. Fuller.

To have one's handful , to have one's hands full; to have all one can do. [Obs.]

They had their handful to defend themselves from firing. Sir. W. Raleigh.

Hand-hole <Xpage=668>

Hand"-hole (?) , n. (Steam Boilers) A small hole in a boiler for the insertion of the hand in cleaning, etc.

Hand-hole plate , the cover of a hand-hole.

Handicap <Xpage=668>

Hand"i*cap (?) , n. [From hand in cap ; -- perh. in reference to an old mode of setting a bargain by taking pieces of money from a cap.] 1. An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race to the competitor possessing inferior advantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing superior advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success; as, the handicap was five seconds, or ten pounds, and the like .

2. A race, for horses or men, or any contest of agility, strength, or skill, in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.

3. An old game at cards. [Obs.]

Pepys.

Handicap <Xpage=668>

Hand"i*cap , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Handicapped (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Handicapping .] To encumber with a handicap in any contest; hence, in general, to place at disadvantage; as, the candidate was heavily handicapped .

Handicapper <Xpage=668>

Hand"i*cap`per (?) , n. One who determines the conditions of a handicap.

Handicraft <Xpage=668>

Hand"i*craft (?) , n. [For handcraft , influenced by handiwork ; AS. handcr\'91ft .] 1. A trade requiring skill of hand; manual occupation; handcraft.

Addison.

2. A man who earns his living by handicraft; a handicraftsman. [R.]

Dryden.

Handi-craftsman <Xpage=668>

Hand"i-crafts`man (?) , n. ; pl. -men (<?/) . A man skilled or employed in handcraft.

Bacon.

Handily <Xpage=668>

Hand"i*ly (?) , adv. [See Handy .] In a handy manner; skillfully; conveniently.

Handiness <Xpage=668>

Hand"i*ness , n. The quality or state of being handy.

Handiron <Xpage=668>

Hand"i`ron (?) , n. See Andrion . [Obs.]

Handiwork <Xpage=668>

Hand"i*work` (?) , n. [OE. handiwerc , AS. handgeweorc ; hand hand + geweorc work; prefix ge- + weorc . See Work .] Work done by the hands; hence, any work done personally.

The firmament showeth his handiwork . Ps. xix. 1.

Handkercher <Xpage=668>

Hand"ker*cher (?) , n. A handkerchief. [Obs. or Colloq.]

Chapman (1654). Shak.

Handkerchief <Xpage=668>

Hand"ker*chief (h&acr;n"k&etil;r*ch&icr;f; 277) , n. [ Hand + kerchief .] 1. A piece of cloth, usually square and often fine and elegant, carried for wiping the face or hands.

2. A piece of cloth shaped like a handkerchief to be worn about the neck; a neckerchief; a neckcloth.

Handle <Xpage=668>

Han"dle (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Handled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Handling .] [OE. handlen , AS. handian ; akin to D. handelen to trade, G. handeln . See Hand .] 1. To touch; to feel with the hand; to use or hold with the hand.

Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh. Luke xxiv. 39.

About his altar, handling holy things. Milton.

2. To manage in using, as a spade or a musket; to wield; often, to manage skillfully.

That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper. Shak.

3. To accustom to the hand; to work upon, or take care of, with the hands.

The hardness of the winters forces the breeders to house and handle their colts six months every year. Sir W. Temple.

4. To receive and transfer; to have pass through one's hands; hence, to buy and sell; as, a merchant handles a variety of goods, or a large stock .

5. To deal with; to make a business of.

They that handle the law knew me not. Jer. ii. 8.

6. To treat; to use, well or ill.

How wert thou handled being prisoner. Shak.

7. To manage; to control; to practice skill upon.

You shall see how I will handle her. Shak.

8. To use or manage in writing or speaking; to treat, as a theme, an argument, or an objection.

We will handle what persons are apt to envy others. Bacon.

To handle without gloves . See under Glove . [Colloq.]

Handle <Xpage=668>

Han"dle (?) , v. i. To use the hands.

They have hands, but they handle not. Ps. cxv. 7.

Handle <Xpage=668>

Han"dle , n. [AS. handle . See Hand .] 1. That part of vessels, instruments, etc., which is held in the hand when used or moved, as the haft of a sword, the knob of a door, the bail of a kettle, etc.

2. That of which use is made; the instrument for effecting a purpose; a tool.

South.

To give a handle , to furnish an occasion or means.

Handleable <Xpage=668>

Han"dle*a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being handled.

Handless <Xpage=668>

Hand"less (?) , a. Without a hand.

Shak.

Handling <Xpage=668>

Han"dling (?) , n. [AS. handlung .] 1. A touching, controlling, managing, using, etc., with the hand or hands, or as with the hands. See Handle , v. t.

The heavens and your fair handling Have made you master of the field this day. Spenser.

2. (Drawing, Painting, etc.) The mode of using the pencil or brush, etc.; style of touch.

Fairholt.

Handmade <Xpage=668>

Hand"made" (?) , a. Manufactured by hand; as, handmade shoes .

Handmaid, Handmaiden <Xpage=668>

Hand"maid" (?) , Hand"maiden (?) , n. A maid that waits at hand; a female servant or attendant.

Handsaw <Xpage=668>

Hand"saw` (#) n. A saw used with one hand.

Handsel <Xpage=668>

Hand"sel (?) , n. [Written also hansel .] [OE. handsal , hansal , hansel , AS. hands<?/len a giving into hands, or more prob. fr. Icel. handsal ; hand hand + sal sale, bargain; akin to AS. sellan to give, deliver. See Sell , Sale . ] 1. A sale, gift, or delivery into the hand of another; especially, a sale, gift, delivery, or using which is the first of a series, and regarded as on omen for the rest; a first installment; an earnest; as the first money received for the sale of goods in the morning, the first money taken at a shop newly opened, the first present sent to a young woman on her wedding day, etc.

Their first good handsel of breath in this world. Fuller.

Our present tears here, not our present laughter, Are but the handsels of our joys hereafter. Herrick.

2. Price; payment. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Handsel Monday , the first Monday of the new year, when handsels or presents are given to servants, children, etc.

Handsel <Xpage=668>

Hand"sel , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Handseled &or; Handseled (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Handseling &or; Handselling .] [Written also hansel .] [OE handsellen , hansellen ;cf. Isel. hadsala , handselja . See Handsel , n. ] 1. To give a handsel to.

2. To use or do for the first time, esp. so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally.

No contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath handseled it with prayer. Fuller.

Handsome <Xpage=668>

Hand"some (?; 277) , a. [ Compar. Handsomer (?) ; superl. Handsomest .] [ Hand + -some . It at first meant, dexterous; cf. D. handzaam dexterous, ready, limber, manageable, and E. handy .] 1. Dexterous; skillful; handy; ready; convenient; -- applied to things as persons. [Obs.]

That they [engines of war] be both easy to be carried and handsome to be moved and turned about. Robynson (Utopia).

For a thief it is so handsome as it may seem it was first invented for him. Spenser.

2. Agreeable to the eye or to correct taste; having a pleasing appearance or expression; attractive; having symmetry and dignity; comely; -- expressing more than pretty , and less than beautiful ; as, a handsome man or woman; a handsome garment, house, tree, horse. <-- MW10 treats it as synonymous with beautiful in this sense. -->

3. Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; graceful; becoming; appropriate; as, a handsome style, etc .

Easiness and handsome address in writing. Felton.

4. Evincing a becoming generosity or nobleness of character; liberal; generous.

Handsome is as handsome does. Old Proverb.

5. Ample; moderately large.

He . . . accumulated a handsome sum of money. V. Knox.

To do the handsome thing , to act liberally. [Colloq.]