Hand

Definition of Hand

Pronunciation: hănd

That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See Manus.

That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand

A measure equal to a hand's breadth, - four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.

Side; part; direction, either right or left.

On this hand and that hand, were hangings.

- Ex. xxxviii. 15.

The Protestants were then on the winning hand.

- Milton.

Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.

He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator.

- Addison.

Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.

To change the hand in carrying on the war.

- Clarendon.

Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand.

- Judges vi. 36.

An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful; as, a deck hand; a farm hand; an old hand at speaking.

A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for.

- Locke.

I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile.

- Hazlitt.

Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad, or running hand. Hence, a signature.

I say she never did invent this letter;
This is a man's invention and his hand.

- Shak.

Some writs require a judge's hand.

- Burril.

Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; - usually in the plural.

Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the government of Britain.

- Milton.

10.

Agency in transmission from one person to another; as, to buy at first hand, that is, from the producer, or when new; at second hand, that is, when no longer in the producer's hand, or when not new.

11.

Rate; price.

12.

(Card Playing) That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once

13.

(Firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.

Hand bag
a satchel; a small bag for carrying books, papers, parcels, etc.

Hand basket
a small or portable basket.

Hand bell
a small bell rung by the hand; a table bell.

Hand bill
a small pruning hook. See 4th Bill. - Bacon.

Hand car
See under Car.

Hand director
(Mus.) an instrument to aid in forming a good position of the hands and arms when playing on the piano; a hand guide.

Hand drop
See Wrist drop.

Hand gallop
See under Gallop.

Hand gear
(Mach.) apparatus by means of which a machine, or parts of a machine, usually operated by other power, may be operated by hand.

Hand glass
a -	A glass or small glazed frame, for the protection of plants.
b -	A small mirror with a handle.

Hand guide
Same as Hand director (above).

Hand language
the art of conversing by the hands, esp. as practiced by the deaf and dumb; dactylology.

Hand lathe
See under Lathe.

Hand money
money paid in hand to bind a contract; earnest money.

Hand organ
(Mus.) a barrel organ, operated by a crank turned by hand.

Hand plant
(Bot.) Same as Hand tree (below). - Hand rail, a rail, as in staircases, to hold by.

Hand sail
a sail managed by the hand. - Gwilt.

Hand screen
a small screen to be held in the hand. - Sir W. Temple.

Hand screw
a small jack for raising heavy timbers or weights
(Carp.) a screw clamp.

Hand staff
a javelin.

Hand stamp
a small stamp for dating, addressing, or canceling papers, envelopes, etc. - Ezek. xxxix. 9.

Hand tree
(Bot.) a lofty tree found in Mexico (Cheirostemon platanoides), having red flowers whose stamens unite in the form of a hand.

Hand vise
a small vise held in the hand in doing small work.

Hand work
work done with the hands, as distinguished from work done by a machine; handiwork. - Moxon.

All hands
everybody; all parties.

At all hands
on all sides; from every direction; generally.

At any hand
in any (or no) way or direction; on any account; on no account.

At first hand
See def. 10 (above). - Jer. Taylor.

At hand
a -	Near in time or place; either present and within reach, or not far distant.
b -	Under the hand or bridle. - Shak.

At the hand of
by the act of; as a gift from. - Shak.

Bridle hand
See under Bridle. - Job ii. 10.

By hand
with the hands, in distinction from instrumentality of tools, engines, or animals; as, to weed a garden by hand; to lift, draw, or carry by hand.

Clean hands
freedom from guilt, esp. from the guilt of dishonesty in money matters, or of bribe taking.

From hand to hand
from one person to another. - Job xvii. 9.

Hand in hand
a -	In union; conjointly; unitedly.
b -	Just; fair; equitable. - Swift.

Hand over hand
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.

Hand running
consecutively; as, he won ten times hand running. - Bacon.

Hands off!
keep off! forbear! no interference or meddling!

Hand to hand
in close union; in close fight; as, a hand to hand contest.

Heavy hand
severity or oppression. - Dryden.

In hand
a -	Paid down.
b -	In preparation; taking place. - Tillotson.
c -	Under consideration, or in the course of transaction; as, he has the business in hand. - Chaucer.

In one's hand
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
forthwith; without delay, hesitation, or difficulty; promptly.

Off one's hands
out of one's possession or care. - Spenser.

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.

To be hand and glove with
See under Glove. - Shak.

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.

To clap the hands
to express joy or applause, as by striking the palms of the hands together. - Hudibras.

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.

To get 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.
b -	To be engaged upon or occupied with. - Chaucer.

To have one's hands full
to have in hand all 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 the (higher) upper hand
to have, or get, the better of another person or thing.

To his hand
in readiness; already prepared.

To hold hand
to compete successfully or on even conditions. - Locke.

To lay hands on
to seize; to assault. - Shak.

To lend a hand
to give assistance.

To lift 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.

To put the last hand to
to make the last corrections in; to complete; to perfect. - Ex. xxii. 8.

To set the hand to
to engage in; to undertake.

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.

Under the hand of
authenticated by the handwriting or signature of; as, the deed is executed under the hand and seal of the owner. - Matt. xxvii. 24.

A gambling game played by American Indians, consisting of guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or the like, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.

v. t.

To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as, he handed them the letter.

[imp. & p. p. Handed; p. pr. & vb. n. Handing.]

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

To manage; as, I hand my oar.

To seize; to lay hands on.

To pledge by the hand; to handfast.

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

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.

v. i.

To coöperate.

Related Words

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-Hand-
Hand bag
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Hand bill
Hand car
Hand director
Hand drop
Hand gallop
Hand gear
Hand glass
Hand grenade
Hand guide
Hand in hand
Hand language
Hand lathe
Hand lead
Hand money
Hand organ
Hand over fist
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