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handn. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian hand, hond (West Frisian hân), Old Dutch hant (Middle Dutch hant, Dutch hand), Old Saxon hand (Middle Low German hant), Old High German hant (Middle High German hant, German Hand), Old Icelandic hǫnd, Old Swedish, Swedish hand, Old Danish hand (Danish hånd), Gothic handus, Crimean Gothic handa; further etymology uncertain and disputed.Further etymology. Perhaps ultimately < the same Germanic base as the strong verb reflected by Gothic -hinþan (in frahinþan to take captive, ushinþan to make a prisoner of war), Old Swedish hinna to reach, arrive at (Swedish hinna ), and the related words Gothic hunþs body of captives and Old English hūð plunder, booty, Old High German hunda plunder, booty; further etymology uncertain. Semantic history in Germanic languages. The extended uses in English with reference to the hand as the instrument of agency, possession, or power are widely paralleled in the early stages of other West Germanic languages, as are uses denoting people, or various types of writing, or a side, direction, or quarter. Inflection in Old English. In Old English usually a strong feminine. The word is an original u -stem and regularly follows the paradigm of the former u -stems in Old English: nominative and accusative singular hand , genitive singular handa , dative singular handa , nominative and accusative plural handa , genitive plural handa , dative plural handum . The form hande occasionally occurs for a number of case forms, and may indicate inflection as strong feminine o -stem; however, except for rare occurrences as accusative singular, these forms could alternatively be taken as due to phonetic weakening of the inherited final vowel of handa . Occasional late Old English nominative or accusative plural handan , handen should probably be interpreted as early instances of the spread of the n- plural that is typical of early Middle English, rather than as evidence of a weak paradigm. (In all of the other West Germanic languages and in North Germanic the word shows partial or total assimilation to other declensional classes.) Form history. In Old English the word shows the reflex of short a before a nasal, sometimes spelt o , especially in Anglian dialects, reflecting rounding before a nasal (see β. forms); such rounding apparently also occurred sporadically in later periods. Late Old English hænd probably shows æ for a by reverse spelling; a comparable form occurs very occasionally in early Middle English. In Middle English the forms hoond, hoonde at β. forms apparently reflect lengthening before the homorganic consonant group nd either of rounded o or of a with the subsequent southern shift of lengthened ā to open ō ; it is unclear from the spelling evidence how widespread such a development was. The modern form hand reflects either an unrounded, unlengthened form, or a form with subsequent shortening of lengthened ā (if so, a northern or north midland form, unaffected by the southern shift of lengthened ā to open ō ). Forms such as hend (see γ. forms), which are chiefly found in the north and east midland former Scandinavian settlement areas, are probably partly due to the influence of the early Scandinavian dative singular, which shows i-mutation (compare Old Icelandic dative singular hendi ); they may also be analogical in origin, deduced from double plurals of the type hendes , also ultimately due to Scandinavian influence, as discussed below. It is possible that γ. forms also occasionally arose by reanalysis of early Middle English onhende , adjective (see below). The early Middle English form heond (occurring in the Caligula manuscript of Laȝamon's Brut) has been interpreted as showing early evidence for γ. forms, but more probably reflects orthographic alternation typical of this manuscript. (If it shows this word at all, the same is probably true of the form hænde in this manuscript: see note at handcraft n.) Types of plural formation in Middle English. Reflexes of Old English nominative and accusative plural handa are attested in Middle English, especially in early Middle English, as hande (also hand , handa , haunde , hond , honde , hoonde ); compare:OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) xx. 20 He ætywde him his handa [OE Lindisf. ða hond, OE Rushw. hond] & his sidan.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 14673 Abraham..band itt fet & hande.c1200 ( West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Hatton) iv. 6 He his englen bebead be ðe þæt hyo þe on heora hande bæren.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 149 Þenne wule his heorte ake alse his fet and his honde if heo þurh irnene neile were þurh-stunge.c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 112 Wringinde here honde.c1330 (?c1300) Amis & Amiloun (Auch.) (1937) l. 156 Þer-to þai held vp her hond.c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 2658 He hew of heuedes, armes, & haunde.Beside this, by extension from other more common noun paradigms, the plural type in -en (handen , honden ) is found in Middle English (chiefly early and southern; compare e.g. quot. c1175 at sense 1a) and, a little later, the plural in -es , the reflex of which survives in modern standard English hands (compare e.g. quots. a1225, c1275 at sense 1a). However, especially in northern and east midland dialect areas, a different type of plural is attested: hend (also heind , hende ). This is probably chiefly due to the influence of the early Scandinavian nominative and accusative plural (compare Old Icelandic hendr , with i-mutation), perhaps reinforced in Middle English by the analogy of fet , i-mutated plural of foot n. (However, in quot. ?a1200, the plural form hænde is probably to be interpreted as showing æ as a spelling for short a rather than a plural of this kind.) A double plural hendes also occurs. Compare: ?a1200 ( tr. Pseudo-Apuleius Herbarium (Harl. 6258B) cxxxii. 171 Þane þu hyre hænde [OE Vitell. hyre handa] & hyre fet yseo.a1225 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 204 Sone, i si þi bodi suingen, brest and hend ond fet [a1325 þin hond, þi fot] þurtet sting.c1390 in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) 207 Þo þat nymped her fingres and hendes Are Bacbyteres bi-twene frendes.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 17142 Take vte mi herte bituix þi heind [Vesp. hend].a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3566 His hend [Fairf. hende, Gött. handes, Trin. Cambr. hondes] vnquemli for to quak.a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 3214 Bunden by hend and fete.?a1425 (?a1350) T. Castleford Chron. (1940) l. 20952 His self þarto redie sendes Conandes to hald held vp þar hendes.?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 5 Þe pece [of Christ's cross]..to þe whilk his hend ware nailed.c1475 Babees Bk. (Harl. 5086) (2002) i. 8 Somme holde the clothe, somme poure vpon his hende.a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. i. 11 God has maide man with his hend. Notes on specific senses. With sense 16b (especially in the phrase to set one's hand to) compare Old English handseten signature, ratification ( < hand n. + Old English seten , a deverbal derivative < the Germanic base of set v.1 + the Germanic base of -en suffix2); however, the Old English word may perhaps refer literally to the practice of touching the cross beside one's name in a list of witnesses. Compare also Old English handtācen sign made by the hand (of a witness to a document) ( < hand n. + token n.). With uses of on hand at Phrases 1i(a) compare (rare) Old English anhende on hand, requiring attention, early Middle English onhende at hand, nearby, originally an adjective ( < on- prefix + -hende ; compare gehende hend adj.), but perhaps in early Middle English reinterpreted as a prepositional phrase showing on prep. and the dative of hand n. with mutated stem vowel:eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) ii. vi. 50 Ac swa..him betweonum wunnan þæt hie [sc. Romane] forgeatan þara utera gefeohta þe him anhende wæron.c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 61 He..het hine ða gan to ane wæterscipe þe wæs ðær onhende, þe hatte Syloe. I. Senses relating to the part of the body. 1. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > extremities > hand > [noun] eOE (Mercian) (1965) cxxviii. 5 (7) Non inplebit manum suam qui metet : ne gefylleð hond his se ripeð. OE 518 Nim þe þis ofæt on hand, bit his and byrige. OE Ælfric (Cambr. Gg.3.28) vi. 58 He..næfre sittan ne mihte.., ne his handa to his muðe geræcan. c1175 ( (Bodl. 343) (1894) 6 Aris on ærnemoreȝen & þine honden wæcs. a1225 (c1200) (1888) 119 Aȝeanes ðat his honden namen ðas trewes wastme, aȝeanes þat waren Cristes handes ðurhnailed te ða hali rode. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 5080 Heo letten heom draȝen vt. oðer bi hondes oðer bi fot. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 3083 Moyses held up his hond. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1963) 2 Kings xvii. 2 Þe hondis febled. c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 108 In his hand [v.rr. hond, honde] he bar a myghty bowe. c1450 J. Lydgate Stans Puer (Lamb. 853) in (2002) i. 29 Þin hondis waische also. a1500 (a1460) (1994) I. xiv. 165 I bryng rekyls..Here in myn hende. 1548 f. ccxxxiiii Then eche Prince layed his right hand on ye Missal, and his left hand on the holy Crosse, & toke there a solempne othe. 1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero 66 As long as their hands were able to hold a pen. 1659 W. Chamberlayne iii. ii. sig. N8v Her hands Wringing each others Ivory Joynts. 1700 T. Brown vi. 67 Here walk'd a French Fop with both his Hands in his Pockets. 1768 L. Sterne II. 96 She gave me both her hands, closed together, into mine. 1828 J. Stark I. 31 This opposition of a fifth member to the other four constitutes what is properly called the hand. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Break, break, Break in (new ed.) II. 229 But O for the touch of a vanish'd hand. 1883 Feb. 456/2 He noticed that Mrs. Chetwynd kept a hand tightly grasping the gunwale all the time. 1915 W. S. Maugham xlvii. 231 She had long, beautiful hands, with fingers deeply stained by nicotine. 1960 E. McBain 11 He was a big man with a rough-hewn face and big hands. 2003 D. Hollis 10 Dad put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Good shot, son’. OE Ælfric Homily (Corpus Cambr. 188) in J. C. Pope (1967) I. 272 Godes hand soðlice is ure Hælend Crist, þurh ðone he gesceop ealle gesceafta, and Godes finger is witodlice se Halga Gast. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. l. 274 The hond of hevene him smot In tokne of that he was forswore. 1514 in H. Ellis (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 251 The said Cardinall..delivered her the Scepter.., and the vierge of the hand of Justice. 1592 T. Tymme B b Moses and Aaron are but Gods hands, Gods lieutenants here in earth. a1652 A. Wilson (1653) Proem, sig. A4 I..look to be Anatomized my self by the Hand of Opinion. 1720 W. R. Chetwood i. 3 Safe from the griping Hands of the Law. 1795 G. Mason (rev. ed.) 118 The hand of Nature has anticipated the skill of the artist. 1801 R. Southey II. xi. 263 The busy hand Of Consolation, fretting the sore wound. 1877 L. P. Brockett 32 To crumble beneath the hand of time. 1954 P. G. Wodehouse xviii. 173 The hand of doom within a toucher of descending. 1998 T. Blair in (Nexis) 8 Apr. A day like today is not a day for soundbites, really. But I feel the hand of history upon our shoulders. the world > animals > animal body > general parts > body and limbs > [noun] > limb > hand or tentacle the world > animals > animal body > general parts > body and limbs > [noun] > paw or foot > fore-foot > of quadruped a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Prov. xxx. 28 A lisard with hondis cleueth. 1535 Prov. xxx. C The spyder laboureth wt hir handes. 1607 E. Topsell 437 [A hyena] comming to a man asleep in a sheep-coat, by laying her left hand or forefoote to his mouth made or cast him into a dead-sleep. 1639 T. B. tr. J.-P. Camus Certain Moral Relations in S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus 159 The Lizard..raceth out with her tayle, the markes which with her hands she printed in the sand. 1728 E. Chambers Hand, in Falconry, is used for the Foot of the Hawk... Sometimes it stands for the Fore-feet of a Horse. 1790 Nat. Hist. in J. White 275 The fore legs, in the full grown Kangaroo, are small in proportion to the hind, or the size of the animal; the feet, or hands, are also small; the skin on the palm is different from that on the back of the hand and fingers. 1852 J. D. Dana 428 Hands subtuberculate. 1863 T. H. Huxley ii. 90 The Gorilla's hand is clumsier, heavier, and has a thumb somewhat shorter in proportion than that of a man; but no one has ever doubted its being a true hand. 1922 Oct. 47/1 One morning as the tide was going down I found a raccoon which had been drowned on an oyster-bank. Its delicate black hand had been firmly caught by a big oyster-shell. 1964 G. B. Schaller viii. 187 One grabbed the rump hairs of the first one with both hands, the third animal did the same to the second one. 2006 D. Clode ix. 123 Tree-dwelling favours similar foot adaptations to those favoured by the demands of manipulation; thus some monkeys may be argued to have four hands, rather than four feet. 2009 D. Dixon 8 (caption) Modern ant-eating animals, such as the Australian echidna, have big claws on their hands. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > arm > [noun] ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 13v Þe arme, þat is said þe grete hand [L. manus magna], which Galien..diuideþ in to 3 grete parties: One forsoþ þe vlne, anoþer forsoþ þe arme, Anoþer forsoþ is named atrochita, þat is þe litel hand [L. parua manus]. 1577 sig. N.iij The Thigh, Legge, and Foote, are compounde and made as the great arme or hande. 1615 H. Crooke 728 The vpper ioyntes are called by the common name of the Hand, for the Ancients accounted the whole member from the shoulder to the fingers ends to bee all the Hand. 1661 R. Lovell 302 The limbs are divided into the hands and feet, and the hand into the shoulder, cubit, and extremity. 1752 J. Smith (ed. 3) 49 Now the anatomical hand contains not only the carpus, metacarpus & phalanges digitorum, but the whole superior artus. 1904 29 Oct. Ah wos'n near enuff to ketch she but some odder fellars save she from brakin she foot; or she han, and perhaps she neck. 1967 12 Nov. 4 With the..infant cradled comfortably in his hands. 2009 in L. Winer 418/2 He get chop in he hand, just below the shoulder. the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > order Proboscidea (elephants) > [noun] > elephant > parts of > trunk 1567 J. Maplet iii. f. 81 The Elephant againe with his Snoute vsed as his hande, supplanteth & beareth downe the Dragon.] 1572 J. Sadler tr. Vegetius iii. xxiiii. f. 48 In their armes and helmettes or shoulders, were sette great sharpe prickes of yron, least the Elephant with his hande [L. manu sua] or longe snoute, maye laye holde of the man that came to fighte against him. 1607 E. Topsell 207 They reuerence the Sunne rysing, holding vp their trunke or hand to heauen. 1713 A. Boyer tr. F. de S. de La Mothe-Fénelon xx. 47 The Latins call'd that Trunk, a Hand. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Vivien in 123 The brutes of mountain back..with their serpent hands. eOE (Mercian) (1965) xxx. 18 Eripe me de manibus inimicorum meorum : genere me of hondum feonda minra. OE Ælfric (Julius) (1900) II. 378 Crisantus þa leornode..grammatican cræft and þa hæðenan bec, oþþæt þa halgan godspel him becomon to hande. OE (1932) cxviii. 109 Is sawl min symble on ðinum holdum handum. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 3014 He wollde uss lesenn. Vt off þe laþe gastess hannd & brinngenn uss till heoffne. c1225 (?OE) (Worcester) (Fragm. B) l. 7 Hwar beoþ [nu] þeo goldfæten, þeo þe guldene comen to þine honden? c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 357 in C. Horstmann (1887) 116 Þe bischopriches fullen boþe In-to þe kingus hond. a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 140 (MED) Manye men dieden in hise handis bi þis wey. 1410 in C. Innes (1856) I. 30 [He] fand ane borch in our hand as schref. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 18 Many oþer landes he haldes in his hand. 1511 in M. Livingstone (1908) I. 337/2 Als lang as he haldis the comptrollary in his hand. a1530 R. Pace Let. in H. Ellis (1846) 3rd Ser. I. lxxxi. 199 In a Pacquett off Lettres..comyn to my handis thys mornynge. 1548 f. cvj The Frenchemen..thinkyng the victory to be in their handes. 1611 Gen. xvi. 6 Behold, thy maid is in thy hand . View more context for this quotation 1648 C. Walker i. 11 It was worth observing to see how officiously some of the old Stagers took leave of the publick Purse, before it came into Hucksters hands. 1709 R. Steele No. 53. ⁋11 The Citadel will be in the Hands of the Allies before the last Day of this Month. 1759 J. Wesley 17 Nov. (1931) IV. 336 The weekly contributions of our community..never come into my hands. 1766 W. Blackstone II. xxxii. 511 The executor..is allowed to pay himself first; by retaining in his hands so much as his debt amounts to. 1815 31 Oct. 3/4 The letter came into the hands of the prisoner at the bar, who made an indorsement upon it, ‘George Maddocks, per procuration of Robert Falcon’. 1887 16 Mar. 2/5 It is generally within the last ten years of a building lease that houses in London come into the hands of the house farmer. 1889 A. Conan Doyle iii. 25 Not once in a month did a common newsletter fall into our hands. 1926 Mar. 368/1 There recently came into my hands a pamphlet, peddled by bookleggers, entitled ‘Suppressed Poems by James Whitcomb Riley and Eugene Field.’ 1934 P. G. Wodehouse i. 15 Mr. Sipperly..recommended him to place his affairs in my hands. 2006 2 July 31/4 Depleted uranium is only a weapon in the hands of beardy men. 3. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > extremities > hand > [noun] > action performed by the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > by the instrumentality of [phrase] > specifically a person eOE (Mercian) (1965) cviii. 26 (27) Vt sciant quia manus tua haec est : ðæt witen ðætte hond ðin ðeos is. OE Ælfric (Royal) (1997) xxii. 357 Ða worhte god fela tacna on þam folce þurh ðæra apostola handum. OE (1932) lxxvi. 17 Folc þin ðu feredest swa fæle sceap þurh Moyses mihtige handa [L. in manu Mosi]. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. viii. 36 Hit is comaunded to me & aaron & his sonys doden alle þynges þat þe lord spak by þe hond of Moises. ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. met. iii. l. 3503 O feble and lyȝt is þe hand of Circes þe enchaunteresse þat chaungeþ þe bodies of folk in to bestes. 1449 in J. Raine (1855) II. 147 (MED) As wele when he is in goode hele as when he is visited by the hond of Gode. 1535 Judges vi. 36 Yf thou wilt delyuer Israel thorow my hande. c1550 (1979) ix. 59 Behold. the hand of the lorde is na scheortar nor it vas. 1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus 58 To suffer by the hands of the hangman. 1662 E. Stillingfleet iii. i. §8 If some..attribute such things to Gods immediate hand. 1712 W. Rogers 305 I sent it by the Hand of an Enemy. 1785 Dec. 288/1 All around are made to feel her bounty, whose hand is ever stretched forth to relieve the wants of the distressed. 1847 12 June 385/1 The value of time is best appreciated in considering it as coming from the Lord's hand. 1913 5 June 575/2 She was one..whose hand was seen in political intrigues involving persons of the highest rank. 1961 31 Aug. 523 It is impossible not to see his hand behind the remarkably comprehensive symposium on the subject held in Cardiff last year. a2005 R. Hounsome (2006) 212 Did I detect the hand of my guiding spirit yet again? society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate with [verb (transitive)] > participate with > participate in 1583 f. 75v Euery good action, although it be the gifte of God, yet because our will, and our powers haue a hand in it. 1600 W. Shakespeare v. ii. 139 In which you father shall haue formost hand . View more context for this quotation 1625 F. Bacon (new ed.) 110 His Queen, had the principall hand in the Deposing and Murther of her Husband. 1703 S. Centlivre iii. ii. sig. G2 Come Mrs. [sc. the speaker's daughter] I suppose you had a hand in this wise Plot. 1766 O. Goldsmith I. i. 6 We had two romantic names in the family; but I solemnly protest I had no hand in it. 1843 C. M. Goodridge (ed. 5) 122 I am at a loss myself to discover what hand the moon could have had in it. 1893 R. L. Stevenson xv. 165 That he should have a hand in hagging and hashing at Christ's Kirk. 1931 E. Ferber xiii. 260 No Old World genius of a long-gone day had had a hand in the designing or building of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 1998 20 May 18/3 At present it has a hand in developing 200 products a year for supermarkets. 2012 Queen Elizabeth II in (Nexis) 6 June 7 Prince Philip and I want to take this opportunity to offer our special thanks and appreciation to all those who have had a hand in organising these Jubilee celebrations. the world > space > direction > [noun] > direction to either side of something the world > space > relative position > quality of having sides or being a side > [noun] > fact of having distinct sides > one or other side or hand eOE (Corpus Cambr. 422) ii. 500 Swa ðonne feohteð se feond.., oððæt he gewendeð on ða wyrsan hand deofles dædum. OE (Julius) (1994) 43 Beon hi ðær on yrmðe on ælce hand beclysede, oððæt hi mid ealle deað forswelge. OE (Claud.) xlviii. 13 Iosep..sette Efraim on his swyþran hand, þæt wæs on Israheles wynstran hand [L. posuit Ephraim ad dexteram suam id est ad sinistram Israhel]. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 7353 Heo iseȝen an heore riht hond a swiþe fæier æit-lond. c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 357 (MED) Chese onaiþer hand Wheþer þe leuer ware Sink or stille stand. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 30 He..stirred his horse here and there on the ryght honde and on the lyffte honde. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius (1858) II. 93 All Gallowa and Walis of Annand, And all the dalis on the efter hand. 1548 f. lxxiij On the other hande or syde of the gate, was set a pyllar. 1583 C. Hollyband 91 When you are there, turne on the right hand, and then on the left hand. 1628 J. Doughty 12 Schoolmen do alwaies incline to the worse hand. 1691 R. Ames 22 I know not on which hand my Reader's Judgment stands. 1711 J. Addison No. 3. ¶5 The Floor, on her right Hand, and on her left, was covered with vast Sums of Gold. 1764 T. Gray 19 Nov. (1912) III. 52 The sea, wch, having form'd two beautiful bays on each hand of it stretches away in direct view [etc.]. 1792 J. Belknap III. 79 It [sc. a snow plough] is made of planks, in a triangular form, with two side boards to turn the snow out on either hand. 1806 J. Beresford I. iv. 72 Two friends, perfect strangers to you, squatting themselves down at your right and left hand. 1884 8 Sept. 8/6 The mountains on either hand become loftier and steeper. 1908 453 To Mr. Gray and Mr. Lander I am especially thankful. They have been on either hand of me, and..I have felt sometimes as Samson must have felt when he stood between the two pillars. 1922 J. Hergesheimer 36 Before him reached the narrow entrance of the bay with, on the farther hand, the long pink wall of the Cabañas. 2004 R. Clapp xi. 219 Eva Sutton sits at my other hand. 5. the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > pledge or assurance > hand or glove as symbol of OE Ælfric (Claud.) xiv. 22 Ic ahebbe mine hand to ðam healican Gode [L. leuo manum meam ad Dominum]..þæt ic ne underfo furðon ænne ðwang of eallum þisum ðingum. OE (Tiber. B.iv) anno 1065 Se cyning þæs geuðæ, & sende æfter Haralde heom to.., & kyðde heom þæt ilce, & heom þæt a hand sealde. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 3276 Þa riche men..Plihten mid honden þat heo wel hulden. þurh alle þing flemen Argal heore king. c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 50 (MED) Þer to þai bed her hond To heiȝe and holden priis. a1450 (?a1300) (Caius) (1810) l. 603 On the book they layde her hand, To that forewarde for to stand. c1450 (a1400) (Calig.) (1965) l. 245 ‘Ȝys,’ sayd þe erle, ‘lo, her my hond.’ Hys trowthe to hym he strake. 1573 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger (rev. ed.) xliv. f. 133v Thou must hold vp thy hand to thine eares for me: that is to say, thou shalt confirme me this by an oth. a1670 J. Hacket (1693) i. 77 The Peers..lay not their Hand upon the Book, but upon their Breast; which is a Sign that their vouchment by their Honour in that Tryal is not an Oath. 1711 G. Mackenzie II. 442 Their Marriage-Oath, and all their other Decisive Oaths, are taken by laying their Hand upon the Crucifix. 1792 J. O'Keefe i. 12 I consent to give you Belinda; here's my hand on't. 1868 F. W. Robinson II. iii. vi. 291 I wouldn't have—blowed upon you for the world. Take my hand on it. 1911 15 June 22/3 A Mohammedan witness first placed his right hand on the Koran, put the other hand to his forehead [etc.]. 2005 (Nexis) 2 Sept. 34 As we stood over his body together, I placed her hand on his chest. I made her swear the truth on her children's lives. society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > betrothal and/or marriage > [noun] > hand in betrothal or marriage a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) i. l. 1587 Have hier myn hond, I schal thee wedde. 1586 W. Massie i. sig. A5 Many one for land takes a foole by the hand. 1592 B. Rich ii. ix. 77 The hand of mariage once confirmed, is inoughe to couer all faultes. 1608 W. Shakespeare xix. 31 More conuenient is he for my hand Then for your Ladies. View more context for this quotation 1647 A. Cowley Written in Juice of Lemon in vii And to her Hand lay noble claim. 1753 S. Richardson II. ix. 60 He again urged for her hand, and for a private marriage. 1794 R. B. Sheridan (new ed.) iii. 76 In obedience to your commands I gave him my hand within this hour. 1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vi, in 2nd Ser. III. 140 Catharine's hand is promised—promised to a man whom you may hate. 1871 L. Stephen i. 46 Marriage is honoured, and the heart always follows the hand. 1925 Apr. 55/2 He has done thee the honor to ask thy hand in marriage. 1993 18 Sept. 82/1 A youngster becomes infatuated with a drama teacher, blurts out his love for her and asks for her hand. the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > [noun] > as acceptance of a dance a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iv. 153 Come, our dance I pray, Your hand (my Perdita). View more context for this quotation 1659 S. Hammond 75 One of them complements the Bride, and borrows her hand to lead the Dance. 1747 B. Hoadly i. iii. 11 The Moment I saw her, I resolved to ask the Favour of her Hand. 1813 J. Austen I. xviii. 208 When the dancing recommenced..and Darcy approached to claim her hand . View more context for this quotation 1869 20 Nov. 662/1 The prudent man..will first take the precaution to conciliate madame by asking her permission to ask mademoiselle for her hand in the next quadrille. 1922 6 Feb. 170/2 First one and then another, won by her beauty, asked her hand for the next dance. 2002 M. Cabot 179 Thinking that Harold was trying to procure her hand for the next dance. society > authority > [noun] > authority of husband over wife society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > married man > [noun] > husband > power of husband over wife 1842 W. Smith 1062/1 In the case of a Marriage Coemptione..the woman came into the hand of her husband. 1875 E. Poste tr. Gaius (ed. 2) i. §111 Possession invested the husband with right of Hand after a whole year of unbroken co-habitation. 1954 49 278/1 First the old man would release his wife from his power of hand. He brought about this result by remancipation and manumission. 2002 A. Thatcher iv. 131 The husband's ‘hand’..meant his full control over his wife. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > association football > [noun] > foul 1874 Apr. 33/2 Just opposite the School goal the Norwich cried ‘hands’. 1894 A. Branscombe & ‘A. Ross’ ii. 28 The statute demands A free kick for hands! 1967 (‘Know the Game’ Series) 28 (caption) Area covered by ‘Hands’. 2012 (Ulster ed.) (Nexis) 12 Mar. 46 We don't know why we had a goal disallowed and why we didn't get what was a blatant penalty for hands. II. Something regarded as comparable in shape, size, etc., to a hand. 8. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > representation in art > [noun] > an artistic representation > of living thing > of human figure > of part of OE Ælfric (Royal) (1997) xxvi. 389 Þæra hæðenre anlicnyssa synd gyldene & sylfrene manna handgeweorc, hi habbað..deafe earan & ungrapiende handa. OE Will of Atheling Æðelstan (Sawyer 1503) in D. Whitelock (1930) 60 Ic geann Eadrice Wynflæde Sunu þæs swurdes þe seo hand is on gemearcod. c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) (1981) l. 185 Þeos maumez beoð imaket of gold ant of seoluer..earen buten herunge, honden bute felunge. c1330 (Auch.) (1933) l. 1875 Virgil made anoþer ymage, Þat held a mirour in his hond. a1450 (Bodl. e Mus.) 7 Iche ymage holdyth his othyr hon euermore toward the est. 1535 M. Coverdale cxiii. [cxv.] 7 Their ymages..haue handes and handle not. 1644 J. Bulwer 165 The custome of the Romans..to erect a statue of Mercurie with the Fore-Finger pointing out the maine road, in imitation whereof..we have in such places notes of direction; such is the Hand of St. Albans. 1688 R. Holme ii. xvii. 399/1 He beareth Vert, a Hand proper, holding of a Pen. 1717 tr. A. F. Frézier 242 The Ladies wear..a little Jeat Hand..called Higa, the Fingers closed, but the Thumb standing out. 1771 tr. J. J. Winckelmann iv. 50 There is, in the same cabinet, a viril member, or Priapus, in bronze, soldered to a little hand making the same sign. 1858 O. W. Holmes ix A great wooden hand,—a glove-maker's sign. 1936 Nov. 34/3 He remembered..the amuleto in his pocket, the magic Golden Hand. 2000 Nov. 27/2 Each item is finished with her trademark silver Khamsa talisman (a silver hand with an eye set in the palm). 1553 J. Peele iv. sig. Bij If you chaunce through negligence to beginne any parcell wrong, you shal not rase..or blot it out, but make a hande thus ☛ noting therby that it is an errour. 1612 J. Brinsley sig. A3v A hand pointing at some places which are of most necessarie use. 1680 J. Owen vi. 186 As an hand put in the Margin of a writing calling for a peculiar Attendance unto, and consideration of the matter directed unto. 1739 J. Lewis (ed. 2) iv. 247 At the 8th Verse of the 46th Chapter is a Hand pointing in the Margin. 1788 13 Where any Paragraph..is marked with this Bracket [, and a Hand pointing to it, it is to denote that such Paragraph..was the particular and only matter referred to. 1821 H. Cotton 127 There are no marginal notes or references; but occasionally a pointing hand in the margin. 1901 Oct. 188 The first line is underscored by a pen, and a marginal hand, exquisitely sketched in ink, points to the Pauc is. 2003 R. Tzanaki 275 The possibility of circumnavigation is..sometimes further stressed by a small pointing hand in the margin. society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > types of tools generally > [noun] > shaped like hand 1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus 77 The hands of yron, and other the grappling engines of the Romans, the enemie made much sport at. 1797 J. M'Nayr 234 An iron hand, or comb, then scratches it [sc. the wool]. 1830 M. Edgeworth 6 Dec. (1971) 439 Mr. Turner..had shewn me the bank of England and the famous machine-hand which weighs the guineas without assistance from mortal touch. 1873 Jan. 52/1 Will any one..tell her how to clean white..gloves. She possesses wooden hands for stretching them on. 1926–7 1008/2 Dairy utensils... Scotch hands [for shaping butter]. 2007 (Eire ed.) (Nexis) 27 May 26 Players are supposed to insert coins, then use the metal hand to grab a toy and drop it in the prize slot. 1873 (War Dept., Washington, D.C.) No. 2. 27 (table) Hand. 1917 (rev. ed.) (Ordnance Dept. U.S.A.) 10 The upward movement of the hand will not begin to revolve the cylinder before the trigger withdraws the cylinder bolt. 1927 J. S. Hatcher xi. 194 These old Colt Army .38's..had several serious weaknesses. One was the regularity with which the hand spring became broken so that the cylinder would not rotate. 2009 P. Sweeney (ed. 3) xv. 219/2 The main friction points are (1) the cylinder rotating on the centerpin or crane, (2) the hand advancing the cylinder, and (3) the hammer and trigger pivoting on their pins. the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement of length > [noun] > units of length or distance > length or breadth of hand > breadth of hand 1561 R. Eden tr. M. Cortés i. xviii. sig. C.iii Foure graines of barlye make a fynger: foure fingers a hande: foure handes a foote. 1661 R. Lovell 102 Prickles..of two or three hands length. 1664 S. Butler ii. i. 50 A Roan-Guelding, twelve hands high. 1775 27 Sept. Strayed or stolen,..a large Strawberry Roan horse, between 15 and 16 hands high, strong and well built and of pretty good carriage. 1810 36 196 A galloway under fourteen hands. 1869 Aug. 126/1 A black-and-white-paint horse, fifteen hands high. 1922 23 June 7/2 Pony Horse, not exceeding 15 hands, to be driven by a lady. 2002 Sept. 65/1 He's only 14 hands tall, yet we easily outdistance much larger horses. society > communication > indication > pointing out > [noun] > one who or that which the world > time > instruments for measuring time > clock > [noun] > part(s) of > hand(s) 1563–4 in R. Adam (1899) II. 191 For gilting of the hand of the horologe. 1597 W. Shakespeare ii. iii. 104 The baudie hand of the diall is euen now vpon the pricke of noone. View more context for this quotation 1632 R. Sherwood Dict. sig. L, in R. Cotgrave (new ed.) The hand of a clock-dyall, la monstre d'un Horloge. 1661 160 Now this animated needle shews with the Lilly-hand (or point) the North. 1753 E. Carter i. 35 The dial of the clock hath two hands, shewing hour and minute, and faces the regent-walk. 1781 W. Cowper 681 An idler is a watch that wants both hands, As useless if it goes as when it stands. 1846 H. W. Longfellow ii Half-way up the stair it stands, And points and beckons with its hands. 1892 Jan. 95 The hands of the dial in the simplest Pedometers register miles and quarters up to 12 miles. 1931 E. Bliss iv. 198 The hands of the clock went round from five to eight. 2010 C. McKay ii. 16/1 Another setting dial..is used for setting the hands to time in the event of the clock having to be stopped for maintenance. the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > mutton > [noun] > other cuts or parts the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun] > cuts or parts 1671 tr. A. de Courtin x. 94 A shoulder of Mutton is to be cut like a semicircle betwixt the flap and the hand. 1794 Nov. 377 A turkey weighing seven pounds and a half, a hand of pork, weighing four pounds and a half, a two-penny loaf, [etc.]. a1825 R. Forby (1830) Hand (of Pork), the shoulder joint of a hog, cut without the blade-bone. 1863 E. C. Gaskell I. 62 Flitches of bacon and ‘hands’ (i.e. shoulders of cured pork..) abounded. 1978 D. Smith I. 133 Ask the butcher—giving him a bit of notice—to bone out a hand and spring of pork for this recipe. 2004 H. Fearnley-Whittingstall xiii. 397 A piece trimmed off from the hand of the pork to leave a tidier joint. 12. As a measure of various commodities (the single articles or parts being sometimes compared to fingers). the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > [noun] > tobacco leaf > bundle of the world > relative properties > measurement > the scientific measurement of volume > measure(s) of capacity > [noun] > dry measure > specific dry measure units > pack, bundle, or bunch as unit 1726 102 In another Locker, I found four or five Hands of Tobacco. 1796 C. Varlo I. xxx. 275 Tie three or four leaves together by the thick end with a string; these are called hands. 1888 XXIII. 425/1 The leaves..[of tobacco] are made up into ‘hands’, or small bundles of from six to twelve leaves. 1916 R. L. Clute II. xv. 175 Enough tobacco leaves might be secured to have each pupil make a hand. 2010 G. Harris xxiv. 191 The farmer no longer checked the hands of tobacco Amos had stripped. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > medicinal and culinary plants > medicinal and culinary plant or part of plant > [noun] > ginger plants > ginger root 1756 P. Browne ii. ii. 119 I have sometimes seen a hand of ginger weigh near half a pound. 1850 9 213 The dried rhizome..occurs in flattish, jointed or branched, lobed, palmate pieces, called hands. 1907 A. H. Kirby 44 Cut the hands of ginger into pieces, each about 2 inches long, so that there are one or two buds on each piece. 2007 H. Willinsky i. 13/2 A full hand of ginger is usually 4 to 6 inches long. 1851 H. Mayhew I. 150/1 We buy the water-cresses by the ‘hand’. One hand will make about five halfpenny bundles. 1851 H. Mayhew I. 88/1 A single hand being 5 oranges. 1861 H. Mayhew (new ed.) III. 153/1 Five herrings make a hand. 1900 V. Busuttil 607/1 I bought a hand of herrings for two pence. 1940 A. Goertz v. 313 Things are cheap... A mano—or hand—of eggs, which means five at two centavos each. 1998 5 156/2 In the markets of Mayan descendants, we observe purchases in terms of hands, such as a hand of avocadoes, a hand of oranges, or a hand of cucumbers. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > tropical exotic fruit > banana > bunch of bananas 1875 (St. John's Coll., Cambr.) 9 74 We get a ‘hand’ of bananas (‘figs’ they are called in Trinidad). 1921 P. K. Reynolds 18 A nine hand bunch varies in weight according to the variety of the fruit and the soil and climatic conditions under which it is grown. 2007 5 Mar. a4/5 The priest always provided candy or peanuts—or occasionally a hand of bananas—for all comers. III. Senses relating to people. 13. Frequently in plural. the world > people > person > [noun] > with reference to action OE (2008) 1344 Nu seo hand ligeð, se þe eow welhwylcra wilna dohte. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) l. 13090 Enne castel to areren... Þer feng moni hond to. c1450 How Good Wijf (Lamb. 853) in (2002) i. 41 Þe work is þe sonner do þat haþ many handis. 1598 R. Barret iii. 77 The quadrate of ground..wherein many hands are brought at one time to fight. 1615 J. Stephens 242 Except some charitable hand reclaimes him. 1748 Oct. 474/1 It were heartily to be wish'd, some generous hand would interpose in our favour. 1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Odyssey in II. iii. 115 Whether he on the continent hath fall'n By hostile hands, or by the waves o'erwhelm'd Of Amphitrite, welters in the Deep. 1859 Jan. 166/2 An old sign that some pitying hand had rescued from the ruins. 1893 E. M. Thompson xi. 150 Additions..by the hand that retouched the writing. 1921 Feb. 24 Every hand contributed to the making of the pretty poinsettia and holly border. 1987 10 Apr. 4/5 Volunteers will be on duty at events throughout the country. Extra hands are always needed. 2006 M. Scott xxxv. 375 Unkind hands rolled her onto her belly, tying her wrists. 1587 A. Day Shepheards Holidaie in sig. K2v In sundrie artes wrought foorth by diuers handes. 1644 J. Evelyn (1857) I. 70 Painted in miniature by rare hands. 1665 R. Boyle Introd. Pref. sig. A8 These Papers..[as well] as those of the same hand that have preceded them. 1696 tr. J. Dumont 86 Paintings, by the most celebrated Hands. 1738 12 July A Band of Musick, consisting of the best hands from the Opera, and both the Theatres. 1790 W. Paley i. 7 Everything about them indicates that they come from the same hand. 1861 Apr. 346 The articles are contributed by a variety of hands. 1912 E. V. Lucas ix. 120 It is interesting as coming in part from the hand that designed the tabernacle in Or San Michele and the Loggia de' Lanzi. 1965 3 June 835/3 A major document of the post-Symbolist movement in Spain, with English versions by eleven hands, the ‘hands’ including W. S. Merwin..and James Wright. 2011 S. Nadler vi. 119 For Spinoza..the Hebrew Bible is a jumble of texts by different hands. 14. Chiefly in plural. society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > [noun] > manual worker > labourer or unskilled 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More sig. Cviiv Husbandrie requireth many handes. 1657 R. Ligon 42 Those handes..that must be imployed in their building. 1663 Marquis of Worcester §14 Many hands applicable to the same force, some standing, others sitting. 1721 G. Berkeley 9 Manufactures, which..would employ many hands. 1751 S. Whatley at Kettering Near 2000 hands are said to be employed here in the mf. of shalloons, tammies and serges. a1790 B. Franklin (1981) i. 21 My Son..has lately lost his principal Hand,..by Death. 1856 F. L. Olmsted 433 The children beginning as ‘quarter-hands’, advancing to ‘half-hands’, and then to ‘three-quarter hands’; and, finally, to ‘full hands’. 1886 J. A. Froude i. 7 The ‘hands’ and the ‘hands'’ wives and children. 1903 Apr. 58/1 It is expected that 90 hands in the factory and 50 in the woods will be employed the year round. 1977 31 Aug. a3/1 He doesn't even know how many plant hands have taken advantage of the new program. 1997 L. S. Walsh iv. 126 The hands worked about 125 acres a year. society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > [noun] > crew > member of crew 1580 H. Smith in R. Hakluyt (1589) ii. 470 With all hands she did lighten her sterne, and trimme her head. 1611 T. Dale Let. 25 May in A. Brown (1890) I. 491 Sett some hands likewise on the worke for the lading of their Ships w'th all conveniency and speed for their Returne. 1693 R. Crosfeild 11 One hald..to be paid by the Saylers when they receive their Wages, according to the Number of Hands on Board. 1712 W. Rogers 312 In the Morning we put 35 good Hands aboard her. 1790 W. Bligh 6 There remained on board the Bounty, as pirates..25 hands, and the most able men of the ship's company. 1834 T. Medwin II. 144 She has just hands enough to weigh anchor. 1877 Oct. 699/2 I was a hand on one of them yachts. 1941 11 Aug. 36/2 At 7 a.m. we sent the hands to a quick breakfast in two halves. 2006 (Nexis) 15 Feb. 21 The great-great grandson of one of Nelson's admirals, Pym served as a hand aboard a Brixham trawler for a time. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricketer > [noun] 1731 24 Aug. The Duke's Hands came in first. 1739 25 July The Country lost Five of their best Hands that play'd on Moulsey-Hurst. 1773 6 Sept. 228/1 The active Earl of Tankerville An even bet did make, That in Bourn paddock he would cause Kent's chiefest hands to quake. 1878 Jan. 291 It was hardly likely that the eleven would be able to discover new hands to fill the places of two bowlers. 15. colloquial. With defining adjective. the world > action or operation > ability > [noun] > person with reference to his ability 1738 tr. G. Patin Let. in VII. 167 I am told that he was not a good hand at practice. 1792 W. Cowper 30 Mar. (1984) IV. 42 He..might be one of our first hands in poetry. 1797 G. Washington Let. in (1892) XIII. 422 A rare hand at all obsolete claims that depend much on a good memory. 1830 J. H. Newman (1891) I. 227 I am a bad hand at criticising men. 1858 A. W. Drayson 48 ‘Do you sketch?’ ‘Well, I'm no hand at that’. 1870 E. Peacock II. 280 He was a good hand at singlestick. 1918 Jan. 39/1 John Simmons considered himself quite a hand at figures. 1975 Oct. 11/1 I am a poor hand at daytime drinking. 1997 Mar. 187/3 A demon hand at pool. the world > people > person > [noun] > as having character or qualities 1756 A. Murphy i. 16 He's at his Plays again—Odds my Heart, he's a rare Hand. 1763 H. Laurens Let. 28 May in (1972) III. 465 He is sometimes a queer hand obliging some friends at the expence of better. 1798 I. Milner in M. Milner (1842) ix. 162 His moral character was exceedingly bad..he is still a loose hand. 1827 8 Feb. Met Captain O'Bloodandthunder,—always thought him a very cool hand. 1835 G. P. R. James I. vii. 255 He's a cruel, hard hand, that Pharold. 1860 W. H. Russell II. 146 Little S., the Major's partner..is well known as a cool hand. 1879 W. J. Barry xxv. 283 In the hands of any other driver they would have..smashed up everything, but Scoles was a firm hand. 1909 M. Hewlett xiii. 149 He was a very cool hand. 2004 G. W. Bush in (2007) I. 876/1 We have got a great Vice President... As we say in west Texas, he's a steady hand. IV. Senses relating to skill or dexterity in the use of the hands, or to actions performed using the hands. 16. society > communication > writing > handwriting or style of > [noun] OE Wærferð tr. Gregory (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) i. Introd. 9 Gif ic be eallum þam hadum synderlice þa word animan wolde, þonne..hi na seo hand & þæt gewrit þæs writendan [L. stilus scribentis] swa gecoplice ne onfengce. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Cor. xvi. 21 My greetynge by Poulis hond. 1429 Will in (1895) 5 301 (MED) A massebook writen of ij maner handis. c1475 (1969) l. 684 Ȝe, yt ys a goode rennynge [MS rennyge] fyst. Such an hande may not be myst. 1530 J. Palsgrave 433/1 He goeth to the writyng scole, but his hande appayreth every daye. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus ii. f. 224 Written in greate letters of texte hande. 1576 A. Fleming tr. Hippocrates in 276 He wrote a running hand. 1660 T. Willsford To Rdr. sig. A ij Mr. Nathanael Sharp, who writeth all the usuall hands writ in this Nation. 1705 T. Hearne (1885) I. 38 Mrs. Hesther English, a French woman, writ the Proverbs in French, very neatly, in variety of Hands. 1782 Apr. 197/1 That Chatterton played tricks..with a piece of parchment, and wrote on it in an old hand, is an anecdote which had better been suppressed. 1840 E. Bulwer-Lytton i. iii But he will recognize my hand. 1893 E. M. Thompson xix. 301 We find it convenient to treat the cursive or charter-hand as a separate branch of mediæval English writing apart from the literary or book-hand. 1915 1 Nov. 909/1 Wondering what a certain sentence on the blackboard meant, written in a beautiful hand. 2000 K. Wolf 92 On fols. 14r and 27v–28r, the alphabet is written in a seventeenth-century hand. the mind > language > naming > name or appellation > [noun] > signature 1448 Will of Henry VI in R. Willis & J. W. Clark (1886) I. 380 (MED) I haue signed with myne owne hand thes present lettres. 1466 in E. W. W. Veale (1938) 121 (MED) Thise oure lettres signed with our hand be vnto theyme.] 1534 c. 3 §4 Euery writinge..subscribed with the hande and name of the clerke of the hanaper. 1548 f. xxix Notwithstandynge his othe..& his awne hand and seale. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iv. 281 Dor. Is it true too, thinke you. Autol. Fiue Iustices hands at it, and witnesses more then my packe will hold. View more context for this quotation 1640 S. D'Ewes in H. Ellis (1843) (Camden) 167 A petition..from the Cittie of London accompanied with fifteene thousand hands. 1666 S. Pepys 25 Sept. (1972) VII. 295 By Coach to Lord Brouncker and got his hand to it. 1726 G. Shelvocke ii. 40 In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals. 1798 Treaty 2 Oct. in (1826) iv. 125 The parties hereunto set their hands and seals... Kunnateelah, or Rising Fawn, his x mark. Utturah, or Skin Worm, his x mark. [etc.] 1863 Feb. 145/1 No Englishman who had twenty shillings in his pocket had a right to put his hand to any such agreement. 1893 Feb. 118 Why Captain Lambert had these two men in to see him set his hand to the will is not hard to discover. 1945 9 Apr. 104/3 On a cold December day in 1823, he set his hand to an immortal document. 2010 R. Hobb xi. 318 Had she ever before set her signature to a document that bound her? Only when she had set her hand to her marriage agreement. society > communication > writing > handwriting or style of > [noun] 1700 in J. M. Beale (Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Edinb.) (1953) 226 He..had not a good hand of write. 1760 11 Aug. A Young Man with a good Hand of Write, that understands Book-keeping and Arithmetic, and inclines to serve as a Clerk. 1816 W. Scott I. xv. 317 Div ye think naebody can read hand o' writ but yoursel? 1858 E. B. Ramsay (ed. 2) iv. 58 I am not a good hand of write. 1890 R. L. Stevenson (1895) 14 I request a specimen of your hand of write. 1919 R. Kipling 26 Aug. (1999) IV. iii. 565 In the first place forgive typewriting which is better than my proper hand of write. 2001 J. Stevenson (2002) xii. 288 Your hand of write is so beautiful. the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > a skill the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > a bodily skill a1350 in R. H. Robbins (1959) 24 (MED) Be he neuer in hyrt so hauer of honde.] a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. v. xxviii. 221 Me seiþ þese han a ‘good honde’, þat is to menynge good craft of writynge oþir good lett[r]ure oþ[ir] peyntynge [MS lecture of poyntynge]. 1539 H. Latimer Let. 2 Apr. in (1845) (modernized text) II. 416 You be indeed scius artifex, and hath a good hand to renew old bottles. 1699 R. Bentley (new ed.) 297 I cannot but take notice of his unlucky Hand, whenever he meddles with Authors. 1708 P. A. Motteux v. xx I have no hand at making of Speeches. 1791 A. Radcliffe I. ii. 68 I had always a hand at carpentry. 1859 W. G. Simms xx. 193 He's got a hand for a-most anything. 1881 E. D. Brickwood in XII. 197/1 The ‘hand for crust’ which is denied to many cooks and cannot be learned. 1920 H. L. Mencken 2nd Ser. i. 21 He has a hand for pretty verses. 1979 (Nexis) 22 Apr. h1 ‘I had quite a hand for it,’ the White House pastry chef conceded. 2006 N. Singer iii. 75 He got quite a hand for picture painting and I done told him that I think so. society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > [noun] > art of horse-riding > use of hands and legs > management by reins and bit 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour (Adv.) ii. 120 For yar na hors is in yis land Sa swytht na ȝeit sa weill at hand. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo (1586) iii. 157 b The father..ought in this doubt, to carrie a heavie hand, rather than a light, on the bridle. 1607 G. Markham ii. 101 If the Ryder haue an vntemperate hand, which euer pulleth..vpon the horses mouth. 1686 N. Cox (ed. 3) v. v. 54 In a short time he will..be at such command upon the hand, that he will strike at what rate you please. 1728 E. Chambers (at cited word) A Horseman is said to have no Hand, when he only makes Use of the Bridle unseasonably. 1807 R. Wilson Jrnl. 22 June in (1862) II. viii. 279 She not only sits gracefully but has a master's hand. 1875 G. J. Whyte-Melville (1879) v. 73 Strong of seat, and firm of hand. 1881 E. D. Brickwood in XII. 197/1 Much depends on the rider having good hands... A rider with good hands never depends upon his reins for retaining his seat. 1881 E. D. Brickwood in XII. 199/1 A jockey must therefore..have a hand for all sorts of horses, and in the case of two and three year olds a very good hand it must be. 1912 B. Beach v. 76 Generally speaking, only riders with very light hands should use the curb bit in the hunting-field. 2005 T. Sederholm 42/1 It is almost impossible for a rider to have good hands if they do not have a balanced seat. 19. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > [noun] > stroke of pen or brush 1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello f. 297 Beynge the cause of hys tormente, [she] maye also put her laste hande to hys fatall execution. 1707 N. Luttrell Diary in (1857) VI. 132 An opportunity of putting the last hand to the happy union of the 2 kingdoms. 1755 T. Amory 405 An itinerary I am giving the last hand to. 1772 J. Adams tr. A. de Ulloa (ed. 3) II. 291 Willing to put the finishing hand to our principal work. 1856 H. Melville Let. 24 Mar. in (1993) 288 I..hope that some one who understands punctuation better than I do, will give the final hand to it. 1875 M. Arnold (ed. 3) ix. 376 The compiler did not put his last hand to the work. 1911 tr. A. de Montor IX. 140 It [sc. a refuge for poor children] received a new development, which it only wanted the perfecting hand of his successor to carry to its attainable completeness. 1999 A. Eyffinger xi. 422 It now remained to the Drafting Committee of the Final Act to put the last hand to the phrasing. the world > existence and causation > creation > [noun] > production > of a work of art or skill 1664 R. Atkyns 11 This is such a Man's Hand, I know it as well, as if I had seen him draw it: But (said he) is there but one Man's Hand in this Picture? 1671 J. Milton iv. 59 Carv'd work, the hand of fam'd Artificers In Cedar, Marble, Ivory or Gold. View more context for this quotation 1763 H. Walpole III. i. 43 By the only portrait I have seen of his hand, which is his own head at Houghton, he was an admirable master. 1798 May 376/2 The accompaniment is judiciously constructed, and the bass carries with it the hand of a master. 1841 Feb. 208/2 No sooner had the artist beheld the picture than he recognized the hand of Raphael. 1883 30 June 834/2 An exhaustive acumen in discriminating styles and ‘hands’ [in prints]. 1919 9 Aug. 19/2 No one ever heard of a fake Wagnerian opera nor a composition that might or might not be from the hand of Liszt. 2005 J. Twining (2006) xxviii. 147 Tom had immediately recognized the hand of van Eyck, Rembrandt, and perhaps even Verrocchio in several of the works. the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > applause > [noun] > by clapping hands the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > applause > applaud [verb (intransitive)] > receive great applause 1600 W. Shakespeare Epil. 15 Giue me your hands, if we be friends: And Robin shall restore amends. View more context for this quotation 1770 G. Colman Prelude 5 Dapperwit The curtain is just going to draw up... Townley We'll give you a hand. 1839 C. Dickens xxix. 284 He has gone on night after night, never getting a hand and you getting a couple of rounds at least. 1849 18 June 30 Buskin's part goes without a hand—Lamp carries off all the honours. 1886 6 Oct. 4/3 Their act always pulls a big hand. 1924 H. A. Vachell 179 The second curtain fell without ‘a hand’. 1932 A. J. Worrall 40 He always gets a good hand when he appears in a London theatre. 1959 28 May 958/3 A deed which earned what our Quiz compères insist on calling ‘a big hand’. 2011 T. Dorsey xix. 124 Let's give a huge hand for Missy! 21. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > umpiring and scoring > [noun] > score 1729 6 Sept. The latter got as many within 3 in one Hand, as the former did in two. 1732 29 June There were several very considerable Wagers laid of the first Hands, which were won by the London Gamesters by one Notch. 1752 Game at Cricket in Nov. 582/1 To allow two minutes for each man to come in when one is out, and ten minutes between each hand. 1833 J. Nyren 104 He would often get long hands. 1836 Oct. 361 [Which number] added to the byes they stole, and the wide balls bowled, sufficed to make a hands of eighty-six runs. 1875 Sept. 273 Let me see him make a good hand against good bowling. 1884 ii. i. 45 Fine all-round fielding enabled them to get Marylebone out for 80 in their second ‘hands’. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > turn or innings 1819 W. Hazlitt in 7 Feb. 95/1 The four best racket-players of that day... Davies could give any one of these two hands a time, that is, half the game. 1897 16 Feb. 5/6 Peall had four or five hands [of billiards] to score 16, but the champion could only muster a 40 and a 50. 1909 15 Jan. 12/1 There was nothing done during the next half-dozen hands [of billiards] until Williams ran up a brilliant 136. 1959 F. Brundle iii. 39 In all subsequent innings each partner on each side has a hand, the partners serving consecutively. 1968 (‘Know the Game’ Ser.) (rev. ed.) 9 For the initial service of each game or hand the server may serve from either box. 1988 May 21/4 Over the next few minutes..Devoy moved from 4-5 to 9-5 in one hand. 1995 Z. Waskiewicz in G. Atkinson & T. Reilly xxxvi. 245 In the event of a 3-3 score, handout decides whether to play to 4, or whether the hand should be won by 2 clear points. the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > quality of being tangible > [noun] > sensation produced by object touched 1949 Dec. 415/1 Orlon acrylic fiber has a warm, dry, luxurious hand, coupled with a subdued luster. 1968 J. Ironside 248 A synthetic resin finish..which imparts a..soft hand to cottons. 1995 S. Adanur xiii. 461/2 Its smaller fibers help to create a soft hand, exceptional drape and great compressibility. 2002 M. Yates 61 (caption) Silk taffeta's crisp hand makes it a beautiful drapery material. V. Something that is held in the hand, and related senses. 23. society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [noun] > handle a1400 (Paris) (1929) l. 912 Le manual [glossed] hande [a1325 Arun. handele]. 1451 in A. Clark (1914) 51 (MED) I will that wilȝam telby hafe a nax for wer with the hede and a hande of yrne. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert f. xiiii Holde downe the hyder hande of his sythe that he do nat endent the grasse. 1549 in T. Wright (1869) 40 For makynge a hand to our lady belrope. 1636 Edinb. Test. LVIII. f. 37v, in (at cited word) Fyve silver handis for gentilvomens fetheris. 1715 J. T. Desaguliers tr. N. Gauger 142 The little Hand to turn the Cylinder or Shutter. 1764 V. Green 232 The business called handling..i.e. putting the hand to cups. 1845 VII. 244 On the upper surface of the upper stone [of a quern]..there was another hole bored half through, into which was inserted another stick, which is the hand by which the mill is driven. 1873 T. Bryant (Amer. ed.) xii. 87 The soft parts should be divided by one cut down to the bone, and..gently pressed back with the hand [1872 U.K. ed. handle] of the knife. 1877 W. McHutcheson 210 An' there I stood amidst that group, Without a lid, or haun, or stoup. society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > parts and fittings of firearms > [noun] > other specific parts 1880 L. Clements xxvii. 324 This strap buckles round the ‘hand’ of the gun after thrusting through the D above. 1912 30 Mar. 44/2 Another thing not always considered by gunmakers..is the form of the hand or grip of the gun. 1979 C. F. Waterman 208/1 Sidelock guns have their firing mechanisms installed with plates just ahead of the hand, or grip, of the stock. 24. Cards. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > card or cards > [noun] > hand c1555 sig. Avii Euery Player at the fyrst hand he draweth, payeth a Crowne to the box. 1630 tr. G. Botero (rev. ed.) 41 He that winnes the game, gets not only the maine Stake, but all the Bets by follow the fortune of his hand. 1694 W. Congreve ii. i. 18 Then I find its like Cards, if either of us have a good Hand, it is an Accident of Fortune. 1745 J. Swift Further Thoughts in X. 241 I must complain the Cards are ill shuffled, till I have a good Hand. 1848 G. P. Burnam in F. A. Durivage & G. P. Burnam 136 He dealt me an excellent hand, upon which I ‘begged’, however. 1881 No. 4. 83/2 In whist each player is to consider his partner's hand as well as his own. 1913 ‘A. B. Lougher’ 13 The next process is that of drawing to fill the hands. 1958 16 Oct. 611/3 The blank honour combination in diamonds takes the bloom off West's hand. 2009 V. Coren i. 16 I've got massively the best hand. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > [noun] > card-player > other players 1589 J. Lyly C iiij The poore Church should play at vnequal game, for it should loose al by the Elder hand. 1669 J. Dryden iv. i. 41 Zounds, the Rogue has a Quint-Major, and three Aces younger hand. 1746 E. Hoyle (ed. 6) 22 You are an elder Hand. 1748 T. Smollett I. xiv. 110 I wish we could find a fourth hand. 1778 T. Jones 71 The younger hand is generally to carry Guards to his Queen-suits. 1828 T. Aird in Dec. 713/1 A fag partner at whist when a better fourth hand is wanting. 1905 16 Dec. 779/1 ‘Second hand plays low’ is almost as good a general rule at bridge as it was at whist. ?1917 E. Bergholt 85 Third hand should not carry on the contest further, unless he has some additional reason. 1996 D. Galt 56/2 Regardless of who makes the final call, eldest hand leads to the first trick. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy xxv. xxxiv. 575 They..expected certainely to haue another hand as good as this. a1626 F. Bacon Advt. Holy Warre in (1629) 101 There was, neuer an Hand drawen, that did double the Rest, of the Habitable World, before this. 1673 J. Dryden ii. i. 12 That playes at one Game, and we at another, and therefore heaven may make its hand with the same Cards that we put out. a1816 R. B. Sheridan School for Scandal (rev. ed.) iv. iii, in (1821) II. 100 I have a difficult hand to play in this affair. 1882 B. Harte ii Until you saw my hand. 1887 H. R. Haggard xiii. 117 You don't show me your hand like this for nothing. 1920 Apr. 64/1 He sat him down to play out the hand that Fate had dealt him. 1977 R. Cottam v. 102 The foreign policy-focused decision maker should have a strong hand in bargaining for scarce resources. 2011 (Nexis) 18 Aug. 42 Providing kids who have been dealt a terrible hand in life with an experience to remember is something I readily support. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > [noun] > game or match > one turn of play by all players 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán ii. 123 When I had wonne two or three hands, I tooke pleasure now and then to lose a little. 1753 J. Hill xiv. 191 A Match, vastly to the Advantage of the Lady,..arose from her Advice how to play a Hand at Whist. 1836 C. Dickens (1837) vi. 53 The odd trick at the conclusion of a hand. 1893 Dec. 128/1 When I play a hand I know no friend, no enemy, no feeling. 1933 28 Jan. 8/1 A proposition may be only a problem in cards, such as..how often a pair of deuces will win a hand in stud. 2007 (National ed.) 9 Sept. iii. 7/3 The pros ask the players to move their cards to the edge of the table until the hand is done. VI. Senses referring to the source from which something is obtained. 25. Used with reference to the source (typically a person) from which something is obtained. a. With preceding ordinal number. the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > [noun] > series of persons through whom something passes 1439 in R. R. Sharpe (1911) K. 221 (MED) Persons..have bought here Bestaille perteynyng to the seid craft atte secunde, thridde, and fourth hande. 1551 King Edward VI (Roxb.) II. 504 We should by all thinges at the first hand of straungers. 1589 ‘M. Marprelate’ 44 I had it [sc. the tale] at the second hand. 1624 W. Bedell xi. 141 You haue it but at the third, or fourth hand, perhaps the thirtieth or fortieth. 1708 R. Fleming 3 Those that heard it at second, or third, or fourth hand. 1769 ‘T. Anglicanus’ v. 44 All cannot have it at the first hand..but some at the second, others at the third, fourth, or fifth hand. 1816 17 Aug. 404/1 The towns where they are sold finally, at the sixth hand. 1840 July 61/1 It is therefore not uncommon to meet with occasional shreds and specimens of the Talmudists, at second and third, not to say even at tenth hand. 1921 Apr. 18 He'll buy imitations at seventh hand of Swinburne and Keats. 2011 T. Obreht vi. 150 A starstruck assistant..related it all sixth- or seventh- or eighth-hand. 1598 J. Marston i. iv. sig. D4 Laboring with third-hand iests, and Apish skips. 1713 R. Bentley (ed. 2) xlvi. 37 I hope he'l learn in his next Performance, not to depend too much on second or fifth hand Citations. 1831 J. Banim I. xi. 81 Rooms..stuffed with second-hand, nay, I promise you, fourth, or fifth, or tenth-hand articles of massive old-fashioned furniture. 1896 25 July 110/2 Its author accepts the merest gossip for gospel, and insults Swinburne..on the tenth-hand authority of a youth who never saw the poet. 1919 Nov. 84/2 Lund went riding with Henry Murino in his recently purchased seventh hand Buick centipede. 1999 J. Raban iv. 234 Blackbeard was reading a seventh-hand copy of John Grisham. 2004 29 Nov. 164/1 Fifth-hand rumors of the urban-legend variety swirl around him. society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > [adverb] > at specific type of price 1552 R. Huloet Bye dearer, or at the last hande. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda xxxiii. 82 b To the end our Merchaunts..might..buye theyr Spices at the better hande. 1599 R. Hakluyt (new ed.) II. ii. 3 For the procuring of which..commodities at the best and first hand. 1696 J. F. 11 The whole sute is generally sold at the best hand for three Pound ten. 1715 J. Urmstone Let. 21 June in W. L. Saunders (1886) II. 187 Obliged to buy house land servants and stock at the worst hand. 1767 W. Cowper 14 May (1979) I. 166 I might..serve your Honour with Cauliflowers and Brocoli at the best hand. 1807 A. Young II. xv. 394 No person having 4d. can be in want of a dry faggot at the cheapest hand. 1899 9 Feb. 217/2 He was the most likely one to help them to procure provisions at the best hand. society > communication > information > action of informing > [noun] > source of information 1614 J. Chamberlain in R. F. Williams (1848) (modernized text) I. 334 I have heard it, through several ways, from good hands. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius 164 He had it from a very good hand, that the King of Poland had sent an Ambassador. 1717 Lady M. W. Montagu 30 Jan. (1965) I. 303 An Account..which I have been very solicitous to get from the best hands. 1811 J. W. Croker Let. June in L. J. Jennings (1884) I. ii. 31 I hear from a good hand that the King is doing much better. 1922 L. A. Beck xxii. 316 I heard it from a sure hand at Yokohama. Phrases P1. Prepositional phrases. a. Phrases with at. (a) at hand. the world > space > distance > nearness > near by [phrase] > near or accessible eOE tr. Bede (Tanner) ii. viii. 122 Þa þæt þa Lilla geseah.., næfde he scyld æt honda [L. ad manum], þæt he þone cyning mid scyldan meahte. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 459 For þe kyng hadde nouȝt elles at honde [L. ad manum] to ȝeve hem, he took þe mes þat was i-sette to fore hym. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 15709 He es cummand negh at hand þe tresun has puruaid. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) l. 81 (MED) Artaxenses is at hand & has ane ost reryd. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) v. l. 354 Vith that douglas com rycht at hand. 1535 2 Esdras xiv. 18 The trueth is fled farre awaye, & lesynge is hard at hande. 1548 f. xlviv Their enemies wer euer at hande. 1606 G. W. tr. Justinus vi. 32 Meane space word was brought that Agesilaus was very neere at hand. 1667 J. Milton ii. 674 Satan was now at hand . View more context for this quotation 1680 J. Moxon I. xii. 208 With your Flat Chissel or Gouge, (or what is nearest at hand) knock softly. 1740 G. Smith tr. (ed. 2) App. p. ix [A] tub, ready at hand with a clear lee. 1750 S. Johnson No. 19. ⁋15 Forced to produce not what was best but what happened to be at hand. 1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch VI. 39 They set fire to those parts that were at hand by brands and torches; and to the remoter parts by shooting flaming arrows. 1841 C. Dickens x. 292 Have you a messenger at hand? 1889 F. E. Gretton 324 The monks were always mindful to establish themselves where there was water close at hand. 1939 ‘N. Shute’ ii. 63 One or two more salvoes fell, not very near at hand, toward the centre of the city. 1970 W. J. Burley ix. 152 He was startled by a woman's voice from close at hand. 2005 Nov. 82/1 For this ‘Japan in a bowl’, grated radish, extra seaweed, a nip of wasabi and a bottle of Kikkoman should all be at hand as you eat. the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > [adjective] > imminent, near, or at hand the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > future [verb (intransitive)] > be imminent c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 16147 Himm þinnkeþþ þatt hiss herrte shall. Tobresstenn neh att hanndess. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 14206 If he mai slepe hele es at hand. 1526 2 Thess. ii. f. cclxxiiv As though the daye of Christ were at honde. a1535 T. More (1553) i. sig. A.i Great perils appeare here to fall at hande. 1577 J. Grange sig. Cii Knowing hir time of deliuery to be neare at hande. 1611 2 Tim. iv. 6 The time of my departure is at hand . View more context for this quotation 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius 34 The end of both his Voyage and life were neer at hand. 1720 D. Defoe 41 The Diet at Frankfort is at Hand. 1774 O. Goldsmith VIII. 23 Others, whose time of transformation is also near at hand, fasten their tails to a tree, or to the first worm-hole they meet, in a beam. 1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in 87 The hallow'd hour was near at hand. 1868 J. H. Blunt I. 433 Further great changes were at hand. 1905 E. M. Forster v. 124 Fortunately the school prize-giving was at hand. 2001 9 May i. 11/1 Liberation is at hand for the most downtrodden members of Germany's working classes. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > arm > [adverb] > wrist c1400 (?c1380) l. 218 (MED) Pyȝt watz poyned & vche a hemme At honde, at sydez, at ouerture, Wyth whyte perle. 1607 S. Rowlands sig. B2v His sleeues at hand button'd with two good pins. 1697 No. 3256/4 The Coat buttoned close at Hand. 1748 J. Ames 104 Long Garment, with ermined Furs at Hand and Collar. 1837 G. Home i. 14 My father appeared in a new rig out, with ruffles at hand and breast. 1913 6 Sept. 38/2 Full length sleeves have preference. Many are in the dropped shoulder design, gathered into a cuff with puff of chiffon or lace at hand. the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > at the beginning [phrase] the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > [adjective] > irascible (of person) 1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil ii. sig. E.ivv Here anon from Priams blood comth Pyrrhus hote at hand. 1613 R. Dallington v. v. 297 Rashnesse..is hot at hand, but tireth at length. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. ii. 23 Hollow men, like Horses hot at hand, Make gallant shew..But when they should endure the bloody Spurre..Sinke in the Triall. View more context for this quotation 1640 T. Fuller 125 Some mens affection spends itselfe with its violence, hot at hand, cold at length. 1650 T. Fuller ii. xiv. 297 Rebellion though running so at hand is quickly tyred..Loyalty is best at a long course. 1705 G. Stanhope II. 223 Many..though hot at hand, yet quickly abate of their Speed. 1722 J. P. tr. Velleius Paterculus ii. lxxiii. 163 Impetuous, and hot at Hand [L. manu promptus], of a quick and ready thought. 1820 W. Scott II. iv. 137 Thou railest at me for being somewhat hot at hand, and rather too prompt to out with poniard or so. 1990 L. Kinsale xxi. 392 Your brother was as hot at hand as ever I saw a man. society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > [phrase] > at close quarters society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > [adverb] > in single combat or duel 1565 T. Cooper at Cominus Pugnare cominus cum hoste, to fight at hande, or hande to hande with his enemie. a1608 F. Vere (1657) 97 When they were come up and at hands with the enemy. 1656 J. Ussher (1658) 749 They fought with them at hand, and afar off. 1700 G. Booth tr. Diodorus Siculus xiii. v. 321 They who fought at Hand, threw their Launces one at another. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. ii. 75 A Lion fostered vp at hand . View more context for this quotation 1650 R. Heath Occas. Poems 18 in Your dog I grant was better bred, Brought up at hand; and better fed Then taught. 1732 in E. Spenser (new ed.) 249 (Gloss.) Cosset, a House-lamb, brought up at Hand. (b) at the hand(s) of, at a person's hand(s). the mind > possession > acquisition > receiving > [phrase] > from the hands of OE Ælfric (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xi. 96 Ða wæs sum wilde hrem gewunod þæt he..gefette his bigleofan æt benedictes handum. OE (Nero) i. xii. §6. 304 He nah mid rihte oðres mannes to onfonne æt fulluhte ne æt bisceopes handa. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 9261 To wurrþenn fullhtnedd att hiss hannd. c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 56 He strake bataillis agayn xij crownyt kingis..and lete thame litill wyn at his hand. 1535 Job ii. 10 Seing we haue receaued prosperite at the honde of God. 1581 W. Lambarde (1588) iv. xxi. 622 It was very Dilatorie for the Justices of Peace, to take those Wages, at the handes of the Shirife. 1605 W. Temple 133 He soliciteth at the hands of the Lord a present recomforting and reioying of his people. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius 288 The King would take it very ill at their hands. 1670 L. Meager 191 In the first place you are to endeavour to be furnished with such sorts of Seed as are of best account..either at the hand of Friend, Gardener, or Seed-man. 1749 H. Fielding II. v. iii. 129 The many little Favours received..at his Hands. View more context for this quotation 1789 J. Bentham v. 37 If what is apprehended at the hands of God is barely the not receiving pleasure, the pain is of the privative class. 1827 J. Bentham IV. viii. vi. 122 In what cases..a succedaneous security shall be accepted at the hands of the plaintiff. 1893 F. W. Maitland in H. D. Traill ii. 165 He had just received the Christian faith at the hands of Roman missionaries. 1918 May 158 If the service required at his hands is a proper one the next application will meet with a different reception. OE Ælfric (Royal) (1997) iv. 207 Se wælreowa Domicianus on ðam ylcan geare wearð acweald æt his witena handum. 1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 157/1 in I Suche iniuries as shee daylye susteyned at the handes of his concubines. 1654 P. Heylyn vi. 182 He suffered at the hands of God his Father, and of men. 1704 J. Pitts x. 164 It was through the cruel Usage that I suffered at their Hands, that I was forc'd to do what I did. 1867 M. E. Herbert vii. 202 Subject..to continual depredations at the hands of the Bedouins. 1912 17 754 He secretly consoled his wife for her ill-treatment at the hands of the patriarchess by saying that the latter was old and barked at everybody. 1976 A. Haley (1977) lxxxiv. 432 She remembered that all of this had happened to her at the hands of Massa Waller. 2008 J. B. Helfgott v. 147 Most people have a much higher likelihood of dying from their own bad habits than they do at the hands of a serial killer. society > authority > subjection > service > at one's service or ready to serve [phrase] the world > space > distance > nearness > near by [phrase] > close to a person > in attendance a1382 (Douce 370) (1850) 1 Chron. xviii. 17 Forsothe the sonys of Dauid [were] first at the kyngis hond. a1450 (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 2066 Al the gretest of that lond Because of mede were at his hond. a1513 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen in (1998) I. 41 I hard..Ane hie speiche at my hand. 1539 1 Chron. xxv. f. 172 All these also were at the hande of theyr father syngyng in the house of the lorde. 1613 S. Purchas 136 The Gibeonites..were at hand unto the Levites in the meanest offices about the..Temple. 1678 B. Camfield vi. 55 They [sc. Angels] are at hand unto Believers, saith S. Basil, if we drive them not away. 1764 C. Churchill 9 The fond Father sits on t'other side.., whilst at his hand Nurse stands interpreter. 1824 ‘Cincinnatus Caledonius’ 92 A stout looking rustic stood at his hand. 1897 3 Apr. 444/1 The literature at my hand was so meager that I could get little help. 1914 Nov. 675/1 The woman at my hand is sure to cry with enthusiasm: ‘Do you really know him?’ 2006 N. French (2009) 149 I was sitting in that warm little room, an untouched mug of coffee at my hand. (d) †(i) at one's own hand. society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > independence > independent [phrase] > one's own master or mistress c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 156 Ffor thou has..tane at thyne awin hand alsmekle or mar-na j held of thyne. ?1548 D. Lindsay sig. Divv Thou haste taken the power at thyne owne hande, without any authoritie of the churche. 1644 5 No Captaine shall presume at his owne hand, without warrant of the Lord Generall, to casseer or give a Passe to any enrolled Souldier or Officer. 1700 in (1852) I. 130 The proprietors did not set up a government at their own hands but were authorized. ?1760 S. Haliburton ii. 7 Being a Lad of pregnant Parts, he takes them up at his own Hand. 1837 9 600/2 When parties have entered into a mutual contract of a solemn nature, neither party can, at his own hand, put an end to the connection. 1899 Jan. 144/1 Certain ill-advised and hasty persons..actually presumed ultroneously, at their own hand, and without Mr Parnell's sanction, express or implied, to assassinate the new Chief Secretary. 1927 24 105 At his own hand and in defiance of two Acts of Sederunt [the Deputy Clerk Register] has relaxed them [sc. regulations]. 1591 J. Penry tr. T. de Bèze xxxi. 74 Any, that are not at their owne hand and ordering. 1619 Lidia Webb..nowe at her owne hand, her parents being all dead. 1798 Dec. 428/1 A very general inclination in the country labourers to be at their own hand during the summer half year. 1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus xi. xi. 154 Word was brought Claudius as he was a banquetting, that Messallina was dead, not telling him whether by her owne hand, or any mans else. 1671 W. Vaughan tr. M. Baudier vii. 59 The Spaniards say he attempted his own life, and in hope to end his miseries, ended his dayes by his own hand. 1773 J. Priestley II. 45 Many of the most eminent Stoicks died by their own hands. 1817 J. Mill I. iii. iv. 604 Feroksere suffered a violent death, but whether at his own hand, or that of the brothers, is variously affirmed. 1866 A. Trollope I. i. 2 His son Charles was now dead,—had perished by his own hand. 1902 Apr. 523 It is just as valuable..to know that somebody tried to die at his own hand even though he did not succeed. 1987 E. Hammel 452 He died in 1972 at age fifty-seven by his own hand. 2009 J. Connolly 62 For the time that he had believed his son had died at his own hand, Daniel had contemplated the horror of the act. the world > action or operation > difficulty > [phrase] > in a difficult position > in straits the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > circumstance [phrase] > in a bad situation 1490 W. Caxton tr. (1885) xiv. 352 He saw well that his folke was at the worste hande. 1589 R. Greene sig. H4 By Multiplication I can make two of one, in an houres warning, or bee as good as a cypher to fill vp a place at the worst hand. 1621 R. Montagu iii. 421 Paulus..at worst hand hath related it in good and true Latine. 1640 T. Fuller 136 Is the world at thus bad hand..that one must bee farre from trusting their neerest friends? 1685 C. Cotton tr. M. de Montaigne III. ix. 352 At the worst hand, this difform liberty of presenting themselves two several ways..be allow'd to those who only speak of things [etc.]. the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > small of quantity, amount, or degree [phrase] > not at all a1500 (?c1400) (Cambr.) (1937) l. 995 (MED) Owre kyng..neuyr syr james slowe at none honde. 1569 R. Grafton II. 27 The Welshmen would at no hand geue him any oportunitie to fight with them. 1620 T. Venner Introd. 11 It is at no hand to be allowed. 1690 J. Norris 128 This the Gravity of Zeno's School will at no hand permit. 1717 J. Sharp 14 When the Word of God Written is by way of Eminence call'd the Scripture, 'tis at no hand intended to signify, that the Copying or Writing makes it God's Word. 1789 Dec. 565 He hath irrevocably decreed at no hand to save such particular men. 1816 W. Scott Old Mortality vi, in 1st Ser. II. 139 Ye maun never, at no hand, speak o' leaving the land. 1901 R. MacDonald i. 9 Mr. Feckenham, however, would at no hand take up the quarrel. 1543 f. cxxvv Not to..aide hym at any hande to cause sedicion or strife. 1585 R. Lane Let. 12 Aug. in (1860) 4 10 Yt ys not with grete shippinge at eny hande to bee delte with all. 1646 G. Buck i. 35 His secret drift was, to apt and prepare the Duke to a Rebellion at any hand. 1719 24 Sept. 24 Some of these Verses..were..[pious frauds]; but that all were so, or that the most, is not at any hand to be admitted. 1772 Aug. 385/1 I revised and transcribed those [letters] on Homer.., at any hand. 1886 Oct. 381 At any hand, the morrow ought to bring news of him. 1904 32 74 Not every one ever has a fair trial at any hand. 1556 J. Heywood xxxviii. sig. Sivv Honestie without worship (skilfully skande.) Maie haue: and muste haue: credence at euery hande. 1690 W. Walker 48 It is believed at every hand. 1792 T. Somerville xi. 270 Thus the subject lost at every hand. 1840 G. C. G. F. Berkeley I. xi. 238 The by-paths which at every hand are placed to distract or invite their attention. 1929 Sept. 56/2 EG 22 broke the surface, water spurting through fissures at every hand. 2011 R. Wheeler 288 That inspired Hall..to wrestle even harder with the evils at every hand. b. Phrases with by. (a) by hand. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > extremities > hand > [adverb] OE 267 Ic [sc. the devil] be hondum mot hæþenre sceal [read sceale] gripan to grunde, godes andsacan. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Wisd. xiv. 8 The maumet..maad bi hondys is cursid. c1475 (?c1400) (1842) 86 Blessid þe tre þat riȝtfulnes is don by; but þis þat is maad an idol bi hand is cursid, and he þat maad it. 1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus II. 2 Tim. ii. f. xxi The ghopell, whiche I delyuered vnto thee..delyuer likewise by handes vnto others. 1653 I. Walton xi. 204 Many will fish for the Gudgion by hand . View more context for this quotation 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius 163 A very great bank, so even, that it seems to have been done by hand. 1730 (Royal Soc.) 36 40 The Force, Twist, and touching Surfaces can never be alike and mensurable when joined by Hand. 1796 W. Marshall I. 176 The crooks being cleared, by hand, in a somewhat immechanical manner. 1846 J. Baxter (ed. 4) I. 278 Implements employed in the preparation of flax by hand. 1881 19 May 686/2 Embroidery done by hand. 1920 12 48/1 An air-borne letter delivered by hand in Paris for 2s. 6d. 2003 Dec. 9 (caption) Amid growing dominance of computers in the cockpit, the ‘Blues’ are still flown by hand. 1574 E. Hellowes tr. A. de Guevara 220 So quiet and so gentle, as if it had ben a house lambe brought vp by hand. 1592 T. Tymme G ij They bring up by hand crammed and franked foules and beastes. 1699 B. E. at Nestlings Canary-Birds, brought up by hand. 1755 S. Johnson at Pet A lamb taken into the house, and brought up by hand. A cade lamb. 1856 L. Bollman Ann. Rep. Indiana State Fair 1855 in 454 I raised three pigs by hand this winter, and was astonished to find that when but a week old, each one drank a quart of milk in the twenty-four hours. 1907 8 247 How to rear calves by hand economically is an experiment being tried by many. 2011 (Nexis) 24 Nov. 44 Star, a tawny owl, who..had been reared by hand from a chick. 1656 T. Fuller True Penitent 10 in Those Mothers, who want Milk, are not bound to suckle their own Children, but either to bring them up by hand, or to provide a Nurse for them. 1709 R. Steele No. 89. ⁋6 I was bred by Hand. 1784 M. Underwood (title) A treatise on the diseases of children, with directions for the management of infants from the birth; especially such as are brought up by hand. 1826 20 May 228/1 Children that are brought up ‘by hand’, as the expression is, that is, upon vegetable food, instead of the mother's milk. 1861 C. Dickens I. ii. 12 She had brought me up ‘by hand’. 1920 D. H. Lawrence ii. 56 You only know the feeding-bottle. It's what you want, all of you—to be brought up by hand. 2010 D. Selwyn iii. 32 They had to make use of a wet-nurse or bring the baby up by hand, or ‘by the spoon’. 1617 H. Fitzgeffrey sig. F2 Shee'l make her selfe a gayner, By the Hand. 1623 J. Webster v. i. sig. H3 I will sell him to any man For an hundred Chickens, and he that buyes him of me, Shall loose byth hand too. 1658 W. Gurnall 105 That they should grow rich by the hand. 1678 V. Alsop ii. 98 If the Trade of a Nation be of no more concernment then to be cast away for such trifles, all we shall gain by the hand, is an Additional Reason why they are called Beggarly Rudiments. society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > self-interest > one's own interest [phrase] 1638 H. Adamson i. 8 This proverb current goes, when any sayes, How come you heere? This answere doth he finde, I'm for mine owne hand, as fought Henrie Winde. 1721 J. Kelly 94 Every Man for his own Hand as John Jelly fought. 1817 W. Scott II. xiii. 296 The truth is, that Rob is for his ain hand, as Henry Wynd feught—He'll take the side that suits him best. 1869 Ld. Tennyson 218 Each But sought to rule for his own self and hand. 1879 J. A. Froude ix. 92 Lesbos was occupied by adventurers, who were fighting for their own hand. 1922 W. P. Hamilton xiii. 146 The many successful speculators who fight for their own hand, like Hal o' the Wynd. 2003 B. Green in T. J. Sandoval & C. Mandolfo 146 Saul draws his daughter Michal..as an alibi for his own hand, as well as to be a wife for David. the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb] 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius (1858) II. 607 The Danis..Wand saill to top, and saillit syne fra hand. 1535 D. Lindsay 440 Gude sirs, I sall be reddie, evin fra hand. 1558 in (1844) 265 Fra hand, eftir that the mater wes schawin to me, I persauit. 1568 (a1500) Freiris Berwik 357 in W. T. Ritchie (1930) IV. 271 The Caponis als ȝe sall ws bring fra hand. c1626 H. Bisset (1920) I. 11 The mater ȝe sall heir fra hand. c1450 (a1425) (Selden) l. 4912 (MED) Phylysteyns..was glad þat yt [sc. the ark] was ferre from hand. 1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten i. xcvi. 177/1 There is not one droppe of fresh water to bee found, but onely in some places vppon the sea side, which is farre from hand. 1608 D. Tuvill f. 15v And the reason heereof is not farre from hand. 1684 J. Harington iii. 126 Cherries were there beheld, not far from hand. 1866 Feb. 43/2 Many a stable boy schools himself to believe that forsooth, because the pump is far from hand.., the animals under his care do not need water. 1919 T. Mundy vii. 193 His beloved instrument was never far from hand. 2011 B. Philp iv. 73 Cute shades are never far from hand, and she has equal affection for each and every pair. f. Phrases with in. (a) in hand. the mind > possession > [phrase] > in one's possession OE (Northumbrian) xiii. 3 Sciens quia omnia dedit ei pater in manus : uiste þætte alle salde him se fæder in hondum [OE Rushw. in hond]. OE 647 Ic getrywe in þone torhtestan þrynesse þrym, se geþeahtingum hafað in hondum heofon ond eorðan. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 17990 Þe faderr..hafeþþ ȝifenn himm inn hannd To weldenn alle þingess. a1350 ( in R. H. Robbins (1959) 18 Lutel he wende so be broht in honde. a1400 (a1325) (Fairf. 14) l. 15813 (MED) Petre was in hande tane for forfait he had done. 1491 in (1839) I. 196/2 Gif..William contentis and payis the soume of vc frankis now in hand. a1550 in R. Dyboski (1908) 128 A birde in hond is better than thre in the wode. 1551 T. Wilson sig. Uviij Promised to giue him a great some of mony..and gaue him..halfe in hande. c1600 R. Lindsay (1899) I. 196 The croun..quhilk he wald faine haue beine in handis withall. 1627 J. Carter 38 It lyeth us in hand, seriously to consider what our practice is. 1633 T. Stafford i. vii. 54 Then Dermond O Conner layed hold upon James Fits Thomas, and said, My Lord you are in hand. 1690 J. Locke ii. xxi. 127 Apt to judge a little in Hand better than a great deal to come. 1751 43 With a little yet in Hand, we were almost starving. a1780 W. Mair (1781) ix. 110 As we use to say, there is a good time coming: you are at least getting so much in hand, as keeps you from sinking altogether. 1839 J. Barker 16 Nov. 271 The man who thought he should be satisfied when he had got out of debt, has no sooner paid his last bill, than he begins to wish for a little in hand. 1884 Curtis Price in 51 157/2 His scrupulous desire to keep the mansion-house in hand. 1916 1 Oct. 12/1 They come out here for their bread and butter, and also good money in hand, more than they got in Pommyland. 2000 June 16/4 The key men..helping to provide the grids of support that keep the ball in hand. the world > movement > transference > [phrase] > carried in the hand a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. l. 1267 With arwes brode under the side And bowe in honde. ?a1425 (?a1350) T. Castleford (1940) l. 20251 (MED) Bot yie fight with wapen in hende, Your awn contre for to defende. c1450 MS Douce 52 in (1906) 54 (MED) A fole sholde neuer haue a babull in hande. 1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in (1998) I. 187 Cupide, the king, wyth bow in hand. 1577 J. Grange sig. Hiijv Orpheus with thy Harpe in hande, Arion also.., Wrinche vp your strings. 1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi 61 With sword in hand. 1688 R. Holme iii. 266/1 Here I stand, with whip in hand To slash all those that do oppose Good Husbandry. 1728 E. Chambers at Pike The Pike still continues the Weapon of Foot-Officers, who fight Pike in hand, salute with the Pike, &c. 1785 W. Cowper iv. 239 With brush in hand and pallet spread. 1847 C. Dickens (1848) xxvi. 265 ‘Your regards, Edith, my dear?’ said Mrs. Skewton, pausing, pen in hand, at the postscript. 1909 2 15 A full-blooded Indian dressed in buckskin, with gun in hand. 2007 July 31/3 There you are, plastic baggie or scoop in hand, not knowing where the poop is going to drop. society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a company or body of persons > [adverb] a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 3916 (MED) Ilkan wit oþer went in hand. a1400 (a1325) (Coll. Phys.) l. 22239 Firste sale be descenciune, Are antecriste sal cum in hande. a1516 H. Medwall ii. sig. e.iiiv Go in hand with her anone..For to fele her mynde toward me. 1589 R. Lane in R. Hakluyt iii. 744 Our friend dyed, who was no sooner dead, but certaine our great enemies about Pemisapan..were in hand again. 1863 H. Eaton Diary 4 May in (2011) 147 One young fellow came in hand..and begged us to feel that there was no danger. the world > action or operation > doing > a proceeding > in progress [phrase] c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 115 It shal be doon, quod Symkyn..What wol ye doon whil þt it is in hande. a1500 (a1460) (1994) I. xvi. 195 Somwhat is in hand, Whateuer it meyn. a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in (1557) 36/1 No warre in hande, nor none towarde. 1592 A. Day (rev. ed.) i. sig. E2v The matters or newes presently in hand amongst vs. 1642 H. Parker 38 Is there a machination in hand..which neither Kingdom, Parliament, King, nor all the Royallists can oppose? 1694 R. Molesworth xiii. 206 The Duke's Commissioners..thought it forreign to the matter in hand. 1719 D. Defoe 192 Having much Business in Hand. 1768 W. Blackstone III. 125 Neither..are any reflecting words made use of in legal proceedings, and pertinent to the cause in hand, a sufficient cause of action for slander. 1843 C. Dickens (1844) xxi. 261 Glancing..at the subject in hand, I would say [etc.]. 1888 J. W. Burgon II. xi. 332 He..gave his whole attention to whatever he had in hand. 1936 Nov. 229/2 It was necessary to bring the panels to the agreed moisture-content before these repairs were put in hand. 1972 12 Jan. 26/4 When dealing with bombs one had to ‘switch off everything and concentrate on the job in hand’. 2003 14 Mar. 22/4 Work is in hand to establish this resource and identify an appropriate training and maintenance infrastructure. society > authority > subjection > in or into subjection [phrase] > under control 1761 C. Dalrymple ii. ii. 298 The rider should always keep his horse in hand. 1832 iii. 64 They will have their horses in hand..with their heads well up. 1856 6 Dec. 1491 An Irishman..who has been kept well in hand at a tight University in his calf-days. 1892 L. Stephen (new ed.) I. 151 If he had strong passions..he kept them well in hand. 1955 10 Sept. 6/6 Mr. Butler,..said that he thought the balance of payments problem was on the whole being kept in hand. 1996 J. Bolus vii. 101 The occasion required a jockey who could keep his horse in hand and prevent his killing himself by running away. 2007 (Nexis) 6 Mar. They reassured callers that police had the situation well in hand. 1780 H. Croft II. 30 To drive a Phaeton and Six, in Hand. 1789 Sept. 218/2 Drives madly to an inch with six in-hand. 1790 T. W. Tone xxi. 141 He would drive eight in hand. 1890 20 June 2/1 An eight-in-hand team. 1910 C. F. Holder 112 One of the owners of the island, Captain William Banning, is probably the finest amateur six-in-hand driver in the United States. 1999 K. E. Woodiwiss xv. 385 She moved..to give the third driver plenty of room to maneuver his six-in-hand and wagon toward the stables. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > billiards, pool, or snooker > [adverb] > position of balls 1839 E. Kentfield 43 If all the balls be in the baulk, and the striker's ball in hand, he must lead to the top cushion. 1842 20 Mar. Two balls in baulk and striker in hand. 1860 ‘Capt. Crawley’ xiii. 106 Your ball being in hand, you must play for the hazard that shall bring the object-ball back to the opposite cushion. 1904 S. A. Mussabini v. 228 The cue-ball is ‘in hand’ with the red ball, presenting a straightaway winning hazard into the right middle pocket. 1937 14 Apr. 6/2 He was left with the red ball on the spot and the cue ball in hand. 2011 (Nexis) 6 May 57 With ball in hand, Jamieson then played an excellent safety shot. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > in/into one place, company, or mass [phrase] > together or in a body > specifically of people or animals 1883 A. E. Peache Jrnl. 18 Jan. in C. Gray (1970) viii. 63 Think some got out as made out there were 14,000 in hand after drafting. 1891 D. Ferguson xxxii. 225 The sheep were safely in hand, but..it would take some time yet ere they were housed. 1930 L. G. D. Acland i. 5 Until wire fences were introduced about 1862, all sheep on the plains were kept more or less in hand. The practice was for a shepherd to go round the boundary once or twice a day. 1933 L. G. D. Acland in 28 Oct. 15/7 Sheep are in hand when you have them in a mob near you. 1970 D. McLeod 254 Some musterers tend to get sheep in hand and slow the muster down. 1899 24 Apr. 6/4 Liverpool.., with a game in hand, are still two points behind. 1951 30 Mar. 4/1 As Lincoln have two games in hand, Rotheram can only consider themselves three points clear of the new runners-up. 1985 (Nexis) 18 Aug. 23 Middlesex stay top with 204, but Gloucestershire, who are second.., have two games in hand. 1993 D. Irvin v. 85 ‘Well, boys, if we go down, we're goin' down in first place.’.. ‘Yeah, with a game in hand.’ 2012 (Nexis) 28 Oct. United slipped to third on 18 points but both Chelsea and United have a match in hand on City. lOE (Laud) anno 1100 He heafde on his agenre hand þet arcebiscoprice on Cantwarbyrig.] a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 419 Henry..made holy cherche free, but he hilde þe forest in his owne hond. 1414 Petition in (1767–77) IV. 59/1 (MED) The same Lordshipes weren in his owne hondes. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) III. 1128 I wolde no more..but that ye wolde take all in youre owne hondys, and that ye woll rule my lorde sir Launcelot. ?1531 J. Frith tr. P. Hamilton f. 2v There is no remedye to saue the in thine awne honde. 1600 W. Cornwallis I. ii. sig. C Our actions are in our owne hands. 1679 W. Lodge tr. G. Barri Ep. Ded. sig. A4v I cannot remember I have seen any Original in England but that which is in my own hands. 1788 V. Knox (1790) I. xx. 180 The editors of newspapers have vengeance in their own hands. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. 593 The land..round his pleasure grounds was in his own hands. 1888 May 637 A sort of providential landlord..who probably kept some land in his own hand. 1908 J. H. Ramsay xiv. 235 Leicester kept all the strongest castles, and the most important prisoners in his own hands. 2012 (Nexis) 23 Mar. 59 City's relegation battle still remains in their own hands. society > authority > control > in control or charge [phrase] > under one's control c1430 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) Prol. l. 145 And saw hym come..& in his hond a quene. c1500 (?a1437) (1939) lxxix Ech in his stage, and his make in his hand. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil ii. vii. [vi.] 47 Panthus..in his hand also Harling him eftir his litle nevo, Cummis. 1641 (new ed.) f. 126 at Dogge-draw A Hound that hee leadeth in his hand. 1684 R. Howlett 21 Trot him about in your Hand a good while: Then offer to Mount. 1783 C. Burney Jrnl. in F. Burney (1889) II. 305 I charged him to bring his sister in his hand. 1796 E. Parsons II. 237 Bringing your friend in your hand. 1831 M. M. Sherwood I. iv. 65 Mrs. Strickland came forward, with the little lady in her hand. 1895 Nov. 458 I saw him gang doon the street wi' the wee boy in his hand. 1922 M. Johnston xii. 77 One evening at vesper bell comes our Admiral..to Priory gate with a young boy in his hand. 1999 R.Michalko ii. 36 With the dog in hand, he moves ‘as if’ he had the natural gift of sight. the mind > language > speech > conversation > [adverb] > in conversation with c1450 (1904) I. 81 (MED) Þis husband..baldlie went in hand with his pater noster & sayde it. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 714 I shall never be at ease in my harte tyll I be in handis wyth them. 1509 A. Barclay (Pynson) f. cxxxix Another with Grece and Cesyll is in honde. 1515 Duke of Suffolk in (1864) II. i. 26 The Queen was in hand with me the first day I [came], and said she must be short with me. 1539 Psalms lvi. 2 Myne enemyes are daylye in hande to swalow me vp. 1604 King James VI & I sig. Dv Is it not a great vanitie, that a man cannot heartily welcome his friend now, but straight they must bee in hand with Tobacco? 1633 Bp. J. Hall i. 598 Zerubbabel, who is now in hand to build the Temple. ?1635 W. Laud (1860) VII. 116 For the Statutes, I am in hand with them. 1641 18 It is feared many others [sc. soldiers] will depart voluntarily, unlesse a speedy course be taken. For which purpose a select Committee is chosen, and is in hand with it. 1776 Jan. 23/2 Some buildings he was in hand with. 1825 J. Jamieson Suppl. (at cited word) He's in hands wi' Jean. 1883 R. H. Stoddard in W. J. Linton & R. H. Stoddard Introd. p. xxxv He was in hand with a translation of the Psalms when God called him to sing Psalms with the angels. (e) ?1551 A. Bacon tr. B. Ochino x. sig. F.vi They are then in good handes, beynge in Christes, out of the whyche none shall take them. 1684 23 Apr. We are Safe, so long as we are in Good hands. 1722 D. Defoe 173 This was..a very commendable thing, provided the poor children fell into good Hands afterwards, and were not abus'd..by the Nurses. 1816 J. Austen I. viii. 120 In good hands, she will turn out a valuable woman. 1853 C. Brontë III. xliii. 337 You are in good hands; M. Miret will not be extortionate. 1911 25 Mar. 718/1 The patients were in these instances..in good hands. 1978 28 Oct. 33/1 The Essex countryside appears to be in good hands. 2003 5 Jan. 18/3 Even when I was not sure what was happening or why, I always felt that I was in good hands. 1622 Bp. J. Hall VI. N.T. iii. 384 That so much strength, met with so much malice, hath not preuailed against vs: In spight of both we are in safe hands. 1678 S. Butler iii. i. 87 For where are all your Forfeitures, Intrusted in safe hands but ours? 1719 D. Defoe I. 340 My Interest in the Brasils seem'd to summon me thither, but now I could not tell, how to think of going thither, 'till I had steeled my affairs, and left my Effects in some safe Hands behind me. 1749 H. Fielding IV. xi. x. 189 As we have now brought Sophia into safe Hands, the Reader will, I apprehend, be content to deposite her there a while. View more context for this quotation a1817 J. Austen (1818) III. iii. 41 Your interest, Sir Walter, is in pretty safe hands. View more context for this quotation 1849 P. H. Myers vii. 81 I find that I have a few thousand pounds more than I require, which I should like to put into safe hands for investment. 1915 A. Conan Doyle vii. 99 You are in safe hands. you will not now fail to reach your destination. 1949 43 343 It is evident that the great tradition of French learning in the field of international juridical studies..is still in safe hands. 2001 (Electronic ed.) 2 Apr. Manager Sandy Clark feels the future of St Johnstone is in safe hands after his young stars proved their worth with a 2-0 victory over Hibs. the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > possibility > [adverb] > in any case, at all 1595 G. Markham 34 Cut not the taile of the beast away in any hand, but cut off the skinne. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. vi. 44 Let him fetch off his drumme in any hand . View more context for this quotation 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán ii. 150 I would not in any hand..he should slip his necke out of the collar. a1673 T. Horton (1679) xxi. 157/1 This is a thing which cannot be in any hand, it is very absurd and preposterous to Imagin it. g. Phrases with of. the world > action or operation > doing > in action [phrase] > in respect of action the mind > emotion > courage > valour > warlike valour > relating to valour in combat [phrase] a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 61 (MED) Carencius..was a noblee man of counsaile and of hond [L. manu]. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) i. l. 1431 That knyt Branchus was of his hond The worthieste of al his lond. c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 1245 For to speke of knyghthod of hir hond..Nas of so fewe so noble a compaignye. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) ix. 481 This Schir Eduard..Wes of his handis a nobill knycht. 1509 (de Worde) sig. F.iiiv Thre gentyll barons of englonde Wyse of speche doughty of honde. the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > [adverb] the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > in general [phrase] > on the part of everyone the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adverb] > at all events, at any rate 1548 f. viv Callyng him of al handes kynge. 1598 W. Shakespeare iv. iii. 217 Of all handes must we be forsworne. View more context for this quotation a1645 W. Laud (1651) ii. 69 Then there is joy, great joy, of all hands. a1647 T. Hooker (1648) Pref. sig. A4v This is left as the subject of the inquiry of this age, and that which occasions great thoughts of heart of all hands. 1715 M. Davies 260 Both are own'd of all hands to be spurious. 1777 4 275 The Romans..were allowed of all hands to have been a truly brave, wise, and great people. h. Phrases with off. the world > action or operation > easiness > find no difficulty in [verb (transitive)] > make easy or easier > disencumber or disburden > remove or discharge (a burden) 1627 (1860) 12 Gif thay be pleased to tak the half of the bargane aff their hand.] a1629 W. Hinde (1641) xix. 61 [Some] deale no better with their impotent and old servants than to turne them off their hands to live on a Commons or dye in a ditch. 1676 W. Wycherley v. ii He has seemed to make his wench rich, only that I might take her off his hands. 1742 H. Fielding II. iv. ii. 187 He hath taken several Poor off our hands . View more context for this quotation 1765 S. Foote i. 7 A friend of the lady's will take the child off her hands. 1806 Lady Morgan I. ii. 69 Not that I am overly sorry I could not get nobody to take her off my hands at all. 1862 Sept. 269/1 There will be some June days in our lives..when this blood-work is off my hand. 1889 xxii I have taken him off your hands. 1910 Dec. 57/1 There, that's off my hands. 1937 ‘W. Hatfield’ x. 138 You brought one rat-bag in..so now do me a favour by taking one off my hands. 2001 D. King ix. 61 A lot of blokes who give it the large in the pubs about taking ‘X’ ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ off your hands ‘no problem,’ turn out to be bullshitters. i. Phrases with on. (a) on (also †upon) hand (also †hands). the mind > possession > [phrase] > in one's possession OE Dispute between Bp. Æðelstan & Wulfstan (Sawyer 1460) in A. J. Robertson (1956) 164 Nu syndan þissa gewrita þreo, an on Wigernaceastre æt Sancta Marian þær þæt land toherð & oðer on Hereforda æt Sancte Æþelbrihte & þridde a mid þam þe þæt land on hande stande. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xliii. 67 Þærrihte forlæte æghwylc swa hwæt swa he on handa hæfde [a1225 Winteney swa hwæt swa heo on handa hæfð; L. quelibet fuerint in manibus]. lOE (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1127 Ealle þa ærcebiscopes & biscopes seidon þet hit wæs togeanes riht, & þet he ne mihte hafen twa abbotrices on hande. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 126 Al þat lond þat Eneas heore fader hefde on hond. c1275 (?c1250) (Calig.) (1935) 1651 (MED) Me þunch þat þu me gest an honde. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) i. l. 1542 Thou hast on honde such a game. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 37 Thes eleuen kyngis have more on hande than they ar ware off. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus I. John 91 b It onely lyeth you vpon hande to fyght manfully. 1583 R. Sempill in J. Cranstoun (1891) I. 48 The wark is greit ye haue on hand. 1693 T. Paskell 1 The Country is full of goods, Brass and Pewter lieth upon hand. 1746 Apr. 180/1 It is said, that the company did not save one tenth part of all the valuable goods they had on hand. 1782 8 May 1/2 (advt.) He has upon hands a few neat Gentlemen and Lady's Saddles, bridles, portmantuas, [etc.]. 1814 E. S. Barrett (ed. 2) I. iv. 61 We have other matters on hands. 1817 J. Mill II. iv. v. 470 If he possessed in India any money on loan or merchandize on hand. 1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton I. i. ix. 36 The abode..which had so evidently hung long on hand. 1861 14 Every Postmaster is required to have on hand a sufficient stock of postage labels. 1936 E. A. Atkins & A. G. Walker (ed. 3) v. 49 It is a good plan always to have on hand a little pole-finding paper. 1942 J. Morley in (1992) ix. 133 I have still got one or two big matters on hand before I can go away. 1960 N. A. Harper in L. M. Monheim xviii. 358 It is important legally that the proper physical equipment be on hand. 2006 Jan. 105/2 Keep a few days' worth of food, water, and any necessary meds on hand for your pets. the world > action or operation > adversity > [adverb] > affecting a person (of evil or harm) OE (Corpus Cambr. 201) vii. a. vi. §2. 262 Mæssige man æghwilce dæge..ane mæssan sinderlice for ðare neode, þe us nu on handa stent, oð þæt hit betere wurðe. a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) 192 in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 171 Ure eldre misduden; we habbeð uuele on honde. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iv. l. 326 For evere he hath drede upon honde. ?a1425 (?c1350) (Rawl.) l. 1761 Fader, what harm es þe on hand? the world > action or operation > prosperity > [adverb] a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 177 Here tuder swiðe wexeð and wel þieð and goð wel on hond. ?c1300 (Cambr. Ee.1.1) (1890) 4 (MED) Hom dit en englyse: On ȝeer oþer to, wroge wylle on honde go. Ant euere aten hende, wrong wile wende. the world > time > [adverb] > in course of time or as time goes on c1200 (?OE) (1890) l. 12 Swa ðu scealt on molde wunien ful calde, Dimme and deorcæ. Þet den fulæt on honde. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 242 Þe wunde þet eauer wurseð on hond. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 6343 Ah þene nome hit losede an hond. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 3572 Þeos children weoxen an hond þat heo mihten halden lond. c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 933 On hand Mani man wepen sare For ransoun to yrland. the world > space > distance > nearness > [adverb] c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 427 (MED) To palmers mett he þare On hand. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 4937 Sargantz send i son on hand þat in þair gare mi god þai fand. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 10680 To bring a custom neu on hand. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) l. 4791 A new note neghis on hand. c1540 (?a1400) (2002) f. 185 Onone come the night & neghit vppon hond. the world > space > place > presence > present [phrase] 1835 Mar. 200 We who are now ‘on hand’ are no better discriminators than those who have gone before us. 1891 16 Feb. I heard that he was about to make a sale, and I was on hand. 1923 P. G. Wodehouse iii. 30 My Aunt Agatha..wouldn't be on hand to snooter me for at least another six weeks. 2011 J. Buchan vi. 111 They had someone on hand, five minutes up the road, who could tend to the boat in port. c1450 (a1425) (Selden) l. 5555 (MED) Þor was no way to wend bot a strayt sty of stone; Clamerand on knese and hende, by þat gatt ar þei gone.] a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 468 Sir Launcelot smote hym downe grovelynge uppon hys hondys and hys kneys. 1579 G. Gilpin tr. P. van Marnix van Sant Aldegonde ii. x. f. 169 He should goe creeping alongest the Popes palace, vpon his handes & knees, with a collar about his necke like a dogge. 1690 T. D'Urfey ii. 75 The gripe so strong did seize, That down he came on hands and knees. 1764 D. Garrick 31 Oct. (1963) II. 427 The Manager..was so affected with the piles, that..he was oblig'd to creep upon his hands & knees on a carpet. 1878 Mrs. H. Wood III. xvii. 138 I was on my hands and knees, stoning the passage flags. 1904 A. Conan Doyle Return of Sherlock Holmes in Dec. 613/1 He tore the drugget from the floor, and in an instant was down on his hands and knees clawing at each of the squares of wood beneath it. 1961 A. S. Downer (1964) 12 The Job scenes..were directed..with characters writhing on the floor and careening about on hands and knees. 2007 June 148/1 They spread printouts..out on the floor of the plane and pored over them on their hands and knees. (c) society > morality > duty or obligation > [phrase] > incumbent upon ?1529 sig. A iijv I haue wyfe and chyldren vpon my hande. 1569 R. Grafton II. 1167 Kerseis, and Cottons, lay on their handes. 1639 T. B. tr. J.-P. Camus Certain Moral Relations in S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus 214 Seeing three men upon his hands, what could he doe? 1672 Duke of Buckingham ii. 15 These insolent Raskals have turn'd 'em all back upon my hands again. 1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter 78 in (1968) II. 559 That night..The Deil had business on his hand. 1847 D. P. King 9 Not on my hands, nor on my conscience, Mr. Chairman, shall be this ‘damned spot’. 1889 ‘J. S. Winter’ (1891) 158 I have this house on my hands till next October. 1941 K. Tennant xvi. 165 They would still have a job on their hands clearing out the battlers. 2002 Feb. 27/1 It took officials many days to recognize they had a problem on their hands. society > leisure > [verb (reflexive)] 1668 J. Flavell Ep. Ded. sig. A7 Leave trifling studies to such as have time lying on their hands, and know not how to imploy it. 1700 T. Brown v. 48 'Tis [sc. the playhouse is] frequented by persons..that have a great deal of Idle Time lying upon their Hands. 1825 C. Lamb in May 69 It seemed to me that I had more time on my hands than I could ever manage. 1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ I. vi. 84 The youngsters, havin' so much idle time on their hands, take to gaffin' and flash talk. 1930 A. Christie iv. 33 There is no detective in England equal to a spinster lady of uncertain age with plenty of time on her hands. 2008 U. McGovern (2009) 355 The art of whittling is often thought of as..a hobby carried out by country-dwellers and seamen with time on their hands. the world > space > place > here, there, etc. > [phrase] > everywhere > on all sides c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece v. xvi. f. lxxxxii The romane empyre was persewit sa on euery hand, that he mycht skarsly defend France. 1584 117 Complaining on al handes of our protestant Bishoppes & Cleargy. 1603 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero 105 They are oppressed on all hands. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1622) ii. i. 87 The grace of heauen, Before, behinde thee, and on euery hand, Enwheele thee round. View more context for this quotation 1700 J. Dryden Pref. sig. *Dij 'Tis agreed on all hands, that he writes even below Ogilby. 1794 R. B. Sheridan (new ed.) i. 28 I have heard it on all hands. 1856 R. A. Vaughan (1860) II. viii. vii. 66 The shameful servility of some, the immoral life of others, the bigotry of almost all, repelled him on every hand. 1893 95 227/2 It is admitted on all hands. 1925 Mar. 333/2 Rappers appeared on all hands, and soon an improvement was made in England by the discovery of table-tipping. 1990 G. Gilder (1992) i. 33 Contrary to the rich and variegated promise of new technology proliferating options on every hand, TV squeezes the consciousness of an entire nation. the world > relative properties > relationship > contrariety or contrast > contrariety [phrase] > on the one or other hand the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > [adverb] > on the other hand 1581 P. Wiburn f. 131v We take heed.., least declining, or turning to much on one hande without neede, we seperate our selues from the societie of..God his people... Wee haue to take heede on the other hande for all this, least by ioyning our selues vnto them, we receiue, approue, or allow al things confusedly. 1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac III. 55 My mother..being sicke on one hand, and my selfe on the other. 1676 W. Hubbard Pref. Too much rigidness on the one hand, or laxness on the other. 1705 tr. W. Bosman xxi. 434 We are obliged to depart without our Money: But on the other hand, the next time we come hither, we are sure to be honestly paid. 1711 J. Addison No. 101. ¶2 If Men of Eminence are exposed to Censure on the one hand, they are as much liable to Flattery on the other. 1741 I. Watts i. v. 83 But there is a Danger of Mistake in our Judgment of Books on the other hand also. 1830 6 Feb. 422/1 I have shown that the mechanical accelerating force is a continually decreasing quantity; on the other hand, the acceleration of gravity is uniform and constant. 1871 S. Smiles i. 10 Either being elevated on the one hand, or degraded on the other. 1944 53 241 A formal distinction can be made..between descriptive symbols on the one hand and nondescriptive or logical symbols on the other. 2011 17 Mar. (Viewspaper section) 2/3 The OBR's forecast implies relatively strong job creation. The OECD's, on the other hand, implies continued misery for hundreds of thousands. the world > relative properties > relationship > contrariety or contrast > contrariety [phrase] > on the one or other hand 1587 J. Bridges xvi. 1327 Wee on either hand may fauour too much our owne parties, and be caried away in the heate of our disputes. 1649 W. Blith 76 Over-Ploughing indeed weakens Land, Extreames on either hand are dangerous, and destructive. a1656 Bp. J. Hall (1660) ii. 205 Here we live with men, yea beasts, yea, if (on some hands) I should say with incarnate Devils, I should not [etc.]. 1662 E. Stillingfleet ii. vii. §2 It is no question on either hand whether God may require these things or no. 1769 E. Burke Let. Sept. in (1844) I. 188 On this hand I would not choose a very shy and cold behaviour. 1887 30 June 760/2 It appears to be the duty of a journal like this to seek, without bias on either hand.., the whole truth. 1999 P. R. Brenner in J. D. Davidson & K. J. Doka vii. 87 This new model must transcend the either/or alternatives that drive practice to extremes on either hand. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy iii. 51 That false witnesse, who would not suffer on any hand the innocent person to have the libertie to plead in his owne defence. 1659 J. Gauden iv. xix. 546 The ancient and venerable Authority of Episcopacy..ought not on any hand to be utterly ruined, [etc.]. 1784 Oct. 280 On any hand, it is plain..that he does not deliver, or pretend to deliver, a regular pedigree of descent from father to son. 1864 C. Dickens (1865) I. i. iii. 31 No time ain't been lost, on any hand. 1915 10 Oct. 11 a/1 There was not, on any hand, much objection to the prices which were prevailing for the issues. 2010 A. Vladimirov et al. i. 41 On any hand, it is clearly required to verify both completeness and correctness of any follow-up reaction to its predecessor. j. Phrases with out. c1330 (Auch.) (1991) l. 374 For þat Shrewedom þat regneþ in þe lond, I drede me þat God us haþ forlaft out of his hond. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) John x. 39 Thei souȝten for to take him, and he wente out of her hondis. c1450 (1905) II. 291 He delyverd þe Holie Lande oute of Saracens handis. c1503 (Pynson) sig. I.iv Syr beuys Come to south hampton is To take possession of his londes, That had ben longe out of his hondes. 1694 S. Slater 137 Will it not be a bitter reflexion to you at the last, when the matter is out of your hands, and past remedy? 1713 D. Defoe 23 We shall soon find the King of France insist upon..[Dunkirk's] being Demolished, since it is out of his Hand. 1884 J. R. Green & A. S. Green vi. 253 The power of the land was out of their hands. 1916 1 Jan. 6/1 The decision is taken out of our hands by the state. 1973 23 Mar. 16/2 If it is out of his hand, why worry? 2003 G. Joseph xliii. 359 Russell hoped everything would go well. The situation was out of his hands now, but it was still his collar and everyone knew that. (b) out of hand. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iii. l. 326 (MED) To caste him out of honde there, So that som beste him mai devoure. 1563 A. Golding tr. L. Bruni vi. f. 20v After that weapon was ones Layd out of hand, he suffered not any Citizen to be eyther slayne or taken prysoner. 1647 J. Carter 14 The use of such a nail, or peg,..is to hang things out of hand. 1832 3 No. 16. 648 The dibber is then put out of hand, by being stuck in the ground near where the next hole is to be made. 1997 B. Thompson xxvii. 351 Just as there are times to wait and leave your binocs safely out-of-hand, at other times missing your binocs could mean missing a lifetime opportunity. the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb] c1400 (?c1390) (1940) l. 2285 (MED) Dele to me my destine & do hit out of honde. ?c1500 (Digby) l. 214 Redde him of his lyff out of hand a-non. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens iii. lxxxviii. 427 Aconit is..very hurtful to mans nature, and killeth out of hande. 1611 J. Speed ix. viii. 494/1 Out of hand they despeeded certaine of their Crue, to craue..pardon. 1702 R. L'Estrange tr. Josephus Jewish Antiq. xv. xi, in 431 Salome, and her Faction were Tooth and Nail for Dispatching her out of Hand. 1716 D. Ryder 15 Aug. (1939) (modernized text) 296 Brother William is very hot upon it and would fain have it done out of hand. 1794 W. Godwin I. x. 225 Bid him finish the business out of hand. 1883 F. M. Crawford vii. 114 She will marry you out of hand after a three months' engagement. 1950 W. Faulkner in H. Brickell (1951) 106 There was a faction bent on lynching them at once, out of hand, without preliminary. 2006 Aug. 5/4 The idea..is rejected out of hand by the music colleges I speak to. ?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in (1998) I. 51 Quhen he wes heryit out of hand to hie vp my honoris. 1591 R. Bruce (1843) 242 And, first, he bursteth out of hand as it were into the praise of God. 1765 S. Foote ii. 27 We have at our school two..that were full half a year before they could get out of hand. 1845 J. Mitchell III. iv. 114 How easily cavalry get disordered and out of hand. 1883 W. E. Norris III. xxxv. 223 Your temper seems to have got rather out of hand. 1899 at Get Mod. The horses got completely out of hand and dashed down the hill. 1920 Sept. 392/2 The result gained in controlling agrarianism and in setting up superficial order in communities where matters might have got out of hand. 1952 Nov. 19/2 At the moment, they were out of hand, too crazy with emotion to submit to organized endeavor. 1988 (Nexis) 13 Mar. iii. 13/1 Enrollment had dropped 70 percent, to 500 students, partly because of an out-of-hand party atmosphere. 2006 G. Pretor-Pinney i. 43 What started as a light-hearted tiff between lovers has well and truly got out of hand. 1600 W. Shakespeare (2nd issue) iii. i. 102 Were these inward warres once out of hand, We would (deare Lords) vnto the holy land. 1756 T. Hale et al. vii. xii. 427/2 The Hay being out of Hand, his Care is to return to the Ground. 1793 J. Smeaton (ed. 2) §284 I found..six pieces..unset, but which were scarcely got out of hand, when the swell came on so violent. 1796 C. Smith 10 May (2003) 233 I mean, as soon as the novel I am now about is out of hand..to begin a work of a quite different nature. 1807 S. T. Coleridge (1895) 513 Do what you have to do at once, and put it out of hand. 1920 E. F. Corbett viii. 100 With her, work once finished and out of hand was in a manner dead. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. xxix. vi. 367 This flesh either they eat out of hand thus dressed, or els working it with some paste, they reduce the same into trosches. 1705 tr. W. Bosman xvi. 301 They are eaten raw out of Hand, and taste not much unlike Hasel-nuts. 1844 May 198/2 They [sc. preserved tomatoes] are very good to eat out of hand in the dry state. 1865 S. Robinson II. vi. 595 It is a good cooking fruit before it is fit to eat out of hand. 1955 No. 2087 10 This is a large pear. It is good for canning and other culinary purposes, but of poor quality for eating out of hand. 2011 (Nexis) 6 Sept. These whoopie pies are best served on a plate with a fork, rather than eaten out of hand. 1823 J. Badcock 153 Though repeated with muriatic acid also, it comes out of hand in a most enviable state of whiteness. 1827 ‘J. Hinds’ ii. iii. 403 The patient, though a little weak at first, will come out of hand with a good appetite. k. Phrases with to. the world > space > distance > nearness > near by [phrase] > near or accessible OE (1931) 1471 Liðend [sc. the dove] brohte elebeames twig an to handa. lOE (Corpus Cambr.) (1997) 86 Ic bidde þe þæt þu ateowige me..hwæt he beo þe me swa fela goda to hande bringað. c1300 (?c1225) (Cambr.) (1901) l. 338 Lust whi ihc wonde Bringe þe horn to honde. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 11235 Sli clathes als sco had to hand. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer (Hunterian) (1891) l. 4198 It were foly to prece to honde. c1450 J. Capgrave (Arun. 396) (1893) v. l. 992 (MED) Be his massageris sente he me to hande Al my sustenauns. 1590 E. Spenser i. xi. sig. K8 By this the dreadfull Beast drew nigh to hand. 1590 E. Spenser ii. vi. sig. R4v Him needed not long call, shee soone to hond Her ferry brought. 1673 R. Baxter To Rdr. sig. A2v This Book..hath no Cases of Conscience but what my bare memory brought to hand. 1750 B. Franklin Let. 28 June in (1887) II. 166 I sent this essay..and have since heard nothing of it, which makes me doubt of its getting to hand. 1845 R. C. Trench iv. 83 Evidences ready to hand. 1861 20 July 46/2 You are indignant that a certain letter you ought to have had is not to hand at the proper moment. 1929 2 Nov. 4/7 The carburettor is to hand, and there is a useful air-cleaner. 2000 July 21/1 If you..need to know how high your dado rail should be, the answer will soon be to hand. society > authority > subjection > in or into subjection [phrase] > under control OE 92 Sum sceal wildne fugel wloncne atemian..; deþ he wyrplas on.., oþþæt se wælisca..eaðmod weorþeð ond to hagostealdes honda gelæred. OE Ælfric Old Test. Summary: Judges (Laud) vi. 1 in S. J. Crawford (1922) 406 He let hi to handa þam hæþenan leodscipe, Madian gecweden [L. tradidit eos in manu Madian]. c1200 Serm. in (1961) 7 63 Heo..velden al heore ofsprung eche deþ to honde. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) i. l. 788 He was noght of such myht The strengthe of love to withstonde That he ne was so broght to honde. a1460 (Pembr. Cambr. 243) l. 2304 Hoolde foode away, and watir, kepe it thens, And hem to honde anoon shal honger bringe. 1598 I. D. tr. L. Le Roy i. v. 40 They knowe so well how to tame and bring to hand [harts], that they make their flesh serue for meat to eate. 1607 E. Topsell 307 Alexander..at last wan the Horsse to hand. a1640 T. Risdon (1811) (modernized text) §266 275 He..brought the hawk to hand. 1720 D. Defoe 67 Some of these they had brought so to their Hand, that they taught them to go and come. 1810 Dec. 29 My bulls as well as oxen..are put into carts or waggons as wanted, and upon the whole brought to hand more easily than colts. 1868 Nov. 734 Should Mr. Deacon continue to bring his foxes to hand as he has hitherto done.., the noses on his kennel-door will outnumber all those of his predecessors. 1922 E. Wallace xii. 74 He has got the make, shape and pedigree of a Derby winner, and unless I am mistaken, he is the kind that comes to hand very slowly. 2008 R. L. LaFevers i. 12 If you cannot see to her proper upbringing, then perhaps I shall take her to hand. the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > in preparation [phrase] > in a state of preparation or readiness > ready for use a1513 R. Fabyan (1516) I. lxxxvii. f. xxxiiii After hym shal come a Childe or Childer that shalbe of suche Insolency and wastynge that..[they] shall..waste and destroye by theyr folyes all that other noble men hath purchased to their handes.] 1581 W. Charke in A. Nowell et al. (1584) iv. Ff ij b I English it to your hande, because you deale not with the Greeke. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. xv. 29 What thou would'st do Is done vnto thy hand. View more context for this quotation 1654 J. Bramhall iii. 53 The Court of Rome had done that to their hands. 1701 W. Wotton i. 188 The Work is done to your Hands already by your Father. 1799 (new ed.) VII. 424 The general..has five assistants nominated by the general congregation, who' prepare all matters to his hands. 1855 R. Browning xiv Robert Browning, you writer of plays, Here's a subject made to your hand! 1917 W. Wilson in X. 394 We should act through the instrumentalities already prepared to our hand. 2007 S. Gristwood x. 190 Elizabeth, seeking often to play her courtiers off one against the other, found material ready to her hand in Leicester and in others. l. Phrases with under. the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > having care or custody (of) [phrase] > in the care or custody of OE St. Eustace (Julius) in W. W. Skeat (1900) II. 204 Twegen cempan þa wæron genemde Antiochus and Achaius, þa ær wæron under Eustachius handa. OE Ælfric Old Test. Summary: Judges (Laud) x. 8 in S. J. Crawford (1922) 409 Hi wurdon ða gehergode & gehynde forswiðe eahtatyne gear under heora handa. a1275 in C. Brown (1932) 49 (MED) Wose come hondur his [sc. the Devil's] hont, ded he moste boe. ?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre (1894) I. lf. 21v A Tyrant is your kynge... Considere ye considere vnder whos hande ye be. a1500 (?a1475) (Cambr. Ff.2.38) l. 101 He helde all hys lordys londe Wyth grete honowre vndur hys honde. 1535 Exod. xxi. 20 He that smyteth his seruaunt..that he dye vnder his handes. 1631 T. Dekker iii. i. 25 A man were better to lye vnder the hands of a Hangman, than one of your rubarbatiue faces. 1659 D. Pell 72 As a Physician doth to see many patients dying under his hands. 1700 S. L. tr. C. Frick Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer 16 We had a Man, who had lost a Limb..under our Hands to cure. 1771 T. Smollett I. 198 I was not above six hours under the hands of the hair-dresser. 1843 54 616 I left him under the hands of his valet. 1949 P. Grainger Let. 7 June in (1994) 231 Under such hands I would simply go from knife-cure to knife-cure until I was killed by one of them. 1995 (Nexis) 14 May a1 Historically, minorities have suffered the most under the hands of police. society > communication > indication > that which identifies or distinguishes > personal identification > signature > signed [phrase] 1546 (single sheet) Bryng a certificate vnder the handes of the mayre, the customer and comptroller of the towne and port. 1587 J. White in R. Hakluyt (1589) iii. 769 Which bonde with a testimonie vnder their handes, and seales, they foorthwith made, and deliuered into his hands. 1633 T. Stafford i. vii. 54 For Proofe thereof, behold..Letters which were intercepted, and brought to mee (under the Presidents hand). 1683 No. 1862/8 A Note under the Hand of John Swettaple, Goldsmith,..for Ninety nine Pounds Ten Shillings, paid to Edward Callender or Bearer. 1700 S. L. tr. C. Frick Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer 70 An especial Order under my hand. 1726 W. R. Chetwood 309 The Lady..gave it my Wife, without any thing under my Hand. 1891 92 125/1 The rule which makes it necessary to stamp with a sixpenny stamp an agreement under hand only. 1908 Act 8 Edw. VII c. 166 in 660 Arthur Cochrane..transferred all his interest in his mother's estate..by agreement under his hand bearing the date the 24th January, 1907. m. Phrases with with. the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [phrase] > with all one's might OE (Corpus Cambr.) 5 Þone writre..þe ðas boc awrat bam handum twam [L. duabus manibus et decem cum digitis]. a1425 (a1400) (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 1258 Þe world..Agayn us fightes with twa handes.] 1549 J. Hooper sig. B.viii Christe ones caste suche sellers oute of the temple. But those hathe the Pope and hys receyued in agayne wyth both handes. 1611 Micah vii. 3 That they may doe euill with both hands earnestly. View more context for this quotation 1624 W. Bedell viii. 118 All this is yeelded with both hands. 1741 196 She would give with both Hands to the Loyal Sufferers. a1742 T. Story (1747) 564 There are many would be glad of the Offer, and..receive it with both Hands. 1871 ‘L. Carroll’ ix. 188 You couldn't deny that, if you tried with both hands. 1950 28 Oct. 56/4 Morey Amsterdam dissipated some of his act thru emseeing, but once in his own spot, as the closing act, he hit 'em with both hands. 2008 Summer 130/1 When this part came along, I grabbed it with both hands. society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > evidence > [phrase] society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > evidence > [phrase] > by oath (of so many witnesses) 1484 in J. Raine (1890) 43 He welbe at all tymes redy to prove & make good eythre upon a book or els with his handes. 1609 Leges Marchiarum in (1844) I. 84*/2 He sall purge him þerof at þe merchis..with þe sevynt hand. a1658 J. Cleveland Rustick Rampant in (1687) 472 The Abbot with his twelfth Hand..should swear. P2. Phrases with verbs. a. to change hands. ?1561 T. Blundeville ii. xxiv. sig. K.vi Geue him at the first but halfe a tourne on the right hande, and sodenlye chaunginge handes, let him close the double tourne on the leaft hande. 1584 T. Bedingfield tr. C. Corte iii. 10 When you haue brought him as it were within the compasse of an elne, you shall change hand, by litle & litle. 1696 W. Hope Suppl. Horsemanship xxvi. 47 in tr. J. de Solleysel But if you intend to change hands upon Terra a Terra.., to which hand soever you are going let his shoulders first come in a little before you change him, & then help him with that Legg. 1705 tr. G. Guillet de Saint-Georges i Change a Horse, or Change Hand, is to turn or bear the Horse's Head from one Hand to the other, from the Right to the Left, or from the Left to the Right. 1759 T. Wallis at Hand To guide a horse by the hand, is to turn or change hands upon one tread. 1825 J. Allen iii. 43 If you would change hands again to the left, your Whip acts as your left Leg did in going to the right. 1911 M. C. Grimsgaard ii. 170 To change hands during this practice, the turning on forehand to the side, where the horse's hind feet are stepping sideways, is most suitable to the purpose. 2001 M. Diggle 91 There are horsemen who cause their horses to change hand, in order to ease the left leg. 1565 T. Cooper at Transumo To take the speare out of hys right hande into his left: to chaunge handes. 1594 I. G. tr. G. di Grassi sig. Q In this maner of chaunging hands, he may easilie strike the enimie. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán i. iii. vi. 217 He that made thee thus fine, and me thus course; by giuing to thee, and taking from mee, may change hands, and may bestowe his blessings vpon whom he please. 1663 S. Butler i. i. 6 On either [side] which he would dispute, Confute, change hands, and still confute. 1742 97 To rectify these erroneous Motions from the Glass, by changing Hands. 1780 Mar. 192 Sense and nonsense shall change hands, cast over, and figure into each other's places. 1871 28 Oct. 481/2 From time to time he changed hands, as the fire scorched them, and drew his face back from the heat. 1944 Mar. 51/2 Throttle wide open, you change hands on the stick. 2010 L. Shoneyin xiv. 157 The toy was heavier than I thought it would be so I changed hands every time my wrist ached. the mind > possession > relinquishing > make relinquishment [verb (intransitive)] > hand over to another > change hands 1614 W. Raleigh i. iii. xii. §.3 146 The Athenians ruling fiue daies, the Lacedaemonians other fiue... The common profit..must of necessitie be very slowly aduanced, where consultation, resolution, and performance are so often to change hands. 1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard iii. x. 529 The place however only chang'd the hand without going out of the Family. 1732 G. Berkeley I. ii. ii. 72 Money changeth hands. 1776 A. Smith II. v. ii. 467 When property changes hands..such taxes have frequently been imposed upon it as necessarily take away some part of its capital value. View more context for this quotation 1826 H. N. Coleridge 100 The property in the soil must change hands. 1849 T. B. Macaulay II. 160 The whole soil would soon change hands. 1901 9 209 Once again a buying movement set in, and Lake copper changed hand at 16.375c. 1940 W. Faulkner i. ii. 33 But when cash money starts changing hands, that's something else. 2008 No. 2. 72/2 The green beans..have already changed hands several times. b. Phrases with come. society > travel > aspects of travel > arrival > arrive [verb (intransitive)] the mind > possession > acquisition > receiving > be a recipient [verb (intransitive)] > be received the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > reaching a point or place > reach a point or place [verb (intransitive)] > arrive OE Ælfric (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xl. 336 Him becomon eac swa micele welan to handa þæt his bigleofa wæs ælce dæg mid his hirede þrittig mittan clænes melowes. c1330 Horn Child l. 694 in J. Hall (1901) 187 (MED) Hem com anhauen wele to hand. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 19893 (MED) Þan com þaa thre me[n] him to hand.] c1450 (c1400) (1881) l. 2401 (MED) Thai slowen down þat came to honde. a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in (1557) 56/1 To put on..such harneis as came next to hande. 1603 R. Knolles 92 The common people..eat whatsoeuer came to hand. 1671 H. Oldenburg Let. 11 Feb. in (1970) VII. 453 I am sorry I troubled you wth ye news of ye not-delivery of yr boxe, because it is come to hand since. 1711 J. Puckle 23 Marking Putt-cards on the edge with the nail as they come to hand. 1786 J. Lathrop Let. Mar. in R. Price (1994) III. 12 Before your Letter came to hand, I had seen the young Gentlemen and invited them to my House. 1807 T. Jefferson (1830) IV. 101 The enclosed letter..came to hand yesterday. 1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato (ed. 2) III. 358 Seizing any weapon that comes to hand. 1961 16 Nov. 14/5 As yet, no news of any harness for draught dogs still surviving in our island has come to hand. 2007 July 111/3 Daniel uses any instrument that comes to hand—from clapped out synthesizers to bendy rulers. society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > contend in battle or give battle [verb (intransitive)] > come to close quarters 1524 tr. J. de Bourbon sig. C.iiv The enmyes had way to mounte vpon the towne walles, & come to hande with vs. 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More ii. sig. Pivv The battell come to their handes. 1623 J. Bingham tr. Xenophon 74 Who came to hands, before the whole Armie ioyned. 1715 65 We must necessarily come to Hands with them before we could make any Attempt upon their intrench'd Camp. 1769 tr. P. de Charlevoix I. ii. 90 They avoid, as much as possible, coming to hands with the Spaniards in the plains. 1882 R. L. Stevenson II. 90 I want to come to my hands with them, and be done. 1879 R. M. Martin ii. 605/2 Abdurrahman has not yet declared his hand; perhaps from natural shrewdness, perhaps from the lesson taught him before his so-called flight from Samarcand. 1896 1 Aug. 224/2 As he declared his hand in the final play of a game of chance, he deliberately tore the cards across the middle. 1922 D. H. Lawrence 271 Upstairs Fanny evaded all the thrusts made by his mother, and did not declare her hand. 1963 20 Sept. b8/2 The Michigan conference developments put added pressure on him to declare his hand. 2002 D. Y. Kimberg (ed. 2) 236 You don't have to declare your hand properly in order to claim the part of the pot you deserve. 2012 (Nexis) 12 Mar. 60 As an unabashed Big Eck fan, I have to declare my hand in all of this. 1689 N. Lee ii. ii. 21 Turn me to the sharpest Shrow that ever Bit or Scratch'd, if I do not make her feed out of my hand like a tame Pidgeon, may I be condemn'd to lye with my Wife. 1735 J. Swift Let. to Middleton in IV. 193 I have seen the grossest Suppositions pass upon them; that the wild Irish were taken in Toyls; but that, in some Time, they would grow so tame, as to eat out of your Hands. 1894 3 523/1 Claques..are almost as discreditable to managements as the keeping of tame critics, who eat food out of their hand. 1915 J. Conrad ii. vii. 139 He's like that—sometimes that familiar you might think he would eat out of your hand, and at others he would snub you sharper than a devil. 1958 H. M. Hayward & M. Harari tr. B. Pasternak i. vii. 212 ‘Well, have they had their tails twisted yet? Are they keeping quiet now?’ ‘The shopkeepers, you mean?.. Feed out of your hand!’ 2005 June 122/3 If he played this material live now..he'd have all the young psychedelic folk-heads eating out of his hand. †e. Phrases with fall. society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight [verb (intransitive)] > come to blows 1448 J. Northwood in (2005) III. 59 When they met to-gyder they fell in handes to-gyder, and Syr Robert smot hym..with hys sord. ?1474 R. Calle in (2004) II. 357 I felle on hande with hym for Matelaske Kerre. a1535 T. More (1553) iii. xi. sig. P.ii She fell in hand with him..& al to rated him. 1605 W. Camden i. 222 His wife fell in hand with him, and asked him; What will you do that you list not to put foorth your selfe as others doe? the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake or set oneself to do [verb (intransitive)] c1450 (1904) I. 14 (MED) Fro þe begynyng of þe day I fall in hand with my prayers. 1529 T. More 30 b/1 Or he fall in hand wyth the tone or the tother. 1577 R. Holinshed II. 369/1 King Stephen..fell in hande to besiege the residue of those places which the rebels kept. 1611 M. Smith in Transl. Pref. 10 Neither..were we the first that fell in hand with translating the Scripture into English. a1642 H. Best (1984) 147 Neaver to fall in hand with mole-catchinge till St Marke day..bee past. 1769 B. Blaney et al. in To Rdr. sig. bv For not long after Christ Aquila fell in hand with a new translation. f. Phrases with get. (a) to get one's hands on (also †to, upon). the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold [verb (transitive)] > lay hold of or grasp 1649 30 Apr.–7 May [To] suborn 3 or 4 Officers in the names of divers well-affected Counties (having got their hands to them, without their consents or knowledges, by art of Hocas Pocas). 1793 Jan. 106 It appears to be the view of the British Court, to get their hands on the country that we and the Savages are now contending for. 1845 3 June 6 Thieves were detected..purloining everything they could get their hands on. 1882 4 Feb. 88/1 I got my hands on some papers. 1945 7 July 72/1 Vending machine operators who were anxious to get their hands on some of the surplus [candy bars]. 2010 Sept. 174/1 Serious dipsomaniacs could get their hands on a drink, but guests who were just thirsty could have juice first. 1671 W. Mitchell 8 The Lord wanted not his witnesses..whom the Papists (when they could get their hands on them) cruelly butchered and murthered. 1827 30 May 2/2 If I get my hands upon her, if the devil does not turn her inside out, I will. 1875 16 Apr. Dodger..was an old man then, and he is twenty years older now, but still young enough to punish that correspondent should he ever get his hands on him. 1930 C. Williams x. 127 But till I know who or what the man was, I can't get my hands on the murderer. 1989 8 Aug. 35/1 If I ever get my hands on that man I'll kill him. 2006 J. Vreeland 236 Just wait until I get my hands on the SOB who broke the window in my camper. g. Phrases with give. the mind > language > statement > assent > [verb (transitive)] a1425 (c1384) (Corpus Oxf.) (1850) Ezek. xvii. 18 Forsothe he dispiside the ooth, that he shulde breke the boond of pees, and loo! he ȝaf his hoond. 1572 A. Golding tr. H. Bullinger f. 68v He hath set light by hys oth, and broken hys couenaunt, euen when he had geuen hys hand vpon it. 1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte iii. 24 So they all gaue hands to this opinion, saue only Aristotle. 1621 R. Montagu 121 We must speake, unless we will give hands to be such as you blazon us for. 1718 S. Ockley II. 254 So they gave him their Hands to be subject to him. the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > use courteous actions or expressions to [verb (transitive)] > greet or salute > extend hand to be taken ?a1534 H. Medwall i. sig. biii Gyue me your hand, be not in fere. 1584 R. Scot iii. i. 40 The diuell giueth foorth his hand. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. i. 310 Giue me your hands, God send you ioy, Petruchio, 'tis a match. View more context for this quotation 1677 T. D'Urfey ii. iii. 18 How dost thou do, Girl?—Hah! how dost thou do? Give me thy hand. 1735 H. Fielding iii. 36 There's no Good ever comes of Romping and Palming: I never gave my Hand to any Man without a Glove—except Sir Simon. 1775 R. B. Sheridan v. iii Captain, give me your hand; an affront handsomely acknowledged becomes an obligation. 1859 J. Henry 56 Before sitting down, and after rising from meals, the host and hostess give your their hands, and wish you Ein gesegnete mahlzeit! 1876 T. Hardy I. xix. 189 She gave him a hand so cool and still that Christopher..was literally ashamed to let her see and feel his own. 1918 Dec. 57 I saw the Queen beside me. She gave me her hand and passed on. 2008 R. Sontag i. 14 Ellen, they don't know how to shake a hand. Give me your hand, Rachel. the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > aid, help, or assist [verb (intransitive)] 1682 22 There was an Order come down from the Coroner, to get him stripp'd. They ask'd me if I would give an hand, and I told them yes. 1792 J. Budworth xxxiv. 221 I'll give you a hand at a pull of an oar if you want one. 1860 in A. F. Ridgway 71 His young wife..will readily give him a hand at the crosscut for a few hours. 1880 26 Nov. 2/6 He struck out for the..shore, when a policeman gave him a hand up. 1905 ‘J. Oxenham’ xx. 207 The other men visited him pretty regularly, and gave him a hand with his planting in their spare time. 1955 Sept. 48/2 When a fellow member opened a new food store, Nelson Rotarians gave him a hand. 2001 C. Glazebrook 197 Hadaway, youse two, you can give us a hand. h. Phrases with go. the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)] > conduct (an affair) c1450 (1904) I. 81 (MED) Þis husband..baldlie went in hand with his pater noster & sayde it. 1534 T. More Treat. Passion in 1323/2 Our Sauiour foorthwyth went in hande wyth the instytutynge of..the blessed Sacramente. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus I. Luke i. f. 28 He made no manier bones ne stickyng, but went in hande to offer up his only son Isaac. 1587 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Iland Brit. (new ed.) ii. i. 140/1 in (new ed.) I I will..go in hand with the limits..of our seuerall sees. 1639 R. Sanderson II. 124 [That] he should..go in hand with it himself, with all convenient care and speed. 1660 ‘J. Web’ Pref. sig. A2v Now then to go in hand with what I have undertaken. 1741 241 Prayer [was] the first Work she went in hand with every Morning. 1556 N. Grimald tr. Cicero iii. f. 151v When Atreus parte should go in hand [L. cum tractaretur Atreus]. i. Phrases with have. the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery, superiority, or advantage [verb (intransitive)] a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 973 So God me helpe, I shall never have othir mercy, and I may have the bettir honde. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. ccxv. 272 The marques..had the better hande. 1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus ii. xi. 243 The name of the Turkes hath gotten the bettre hande, and the other [sc. Saracens] is out of remembraunce. 1632 P. Massinger & N. Field ii. sig. Dv To let strong nature haue the better hand. 1641 J. Trapp 2 That the Gospel should have the better hand of the Law. 1727 tr. A. Dacier in tr. Plutarch VII. 295 Libertinism and Vice must be very predominant indeed to get the better Hand of such powerful Rivals. 1837 E. Colthurst 80 The tempter won't be let to get the better hand of any one that God has an order over. 1917 50 66 Whether the forces of evil have not got the better hand of him. the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > have or get (someone) at a disadvantage 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy vii. vii. 253 The other armie..got a good hand against their enemies. 1652 P. Heylyn iii. sig. Qqq2 A Prince, who since he came to age, hath had a good hand against the Turks. 1678 N. Wanley v. ii. 471 Calo Iohannes, his son, had a good hand against the Turks. 2008 B. Hart tr. G. Jean-Aubry in B. L. Kelly vii. 143 Truly we have a good hand against the German music of today [Fr. nous avons beau jeu]. j. Phrases with hold. the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > state of uncertainty, suspense > keep in suspense [verb (transitive)] a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 16428 (MED) Pilate forthoght þaim bath to wrath bot wald þam hald in hand. a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) ii. l. 477 But that .I. nyl not holden hym yn honde. a1450 ( G. Chaucer (Tanner 346) (1871) l. 1019 Her luste to holde no wighte in hond. c1450 (?c1408) J. Lydgate (1901) l. 6419 (MED) [Women] longe for to holde on honde Folkys bothe free and bonde. 1568 A. Scott (1896) iii. 33 Hald thame in hand,..And hecht thame giftis, howbeid ȝe gif thame nocht. 1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto xxxviii. 152 Not to hold him longer in hand. 1683 J. D. tr. B. Le Bovier de Fontenelle 111 I kept you in hand several years, and in the end I laughed at you. 1709 J. Rowe tr. Sallust 124 As to the Peace which the King su'd for, he neither positively refus'd, nor granted it; but held him in Hand. 1823 W. Scott II. v. 132 The rogue-lawyers, after taking fees, and keeping me in hand for years. 1883 Dec. 137/1 You trifled with my affections, held me in hand for years, and flung me away without one grain of pity. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 2432 Þe king..commaunded..Men suld him mensk and hald in hand. 1578 J. Rolland Prol. sig. A.ij Greit Lordis and Lairdis the court wald hald in hand. ?1673 W. Penn vii. 7 What Judas soever H. Hedworth associates with, or holds in hand, that informs him against us, I neither know, nor care. 1877–8 H. Taylor Philip Van Artevelde Pt. II (new ed.) i. i, in I. 217 He's ever taking starts And leaving them that he should hold in hand. k. Phrases with make. society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > getting or making money > get or make money [verb (transitive)] > be profitable to > make profit by 1538 J. London in T. Wright (1843) 234 They mak ther handes by leesys, salys of wodde, and of ther plate. 1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin iii. 15/1 All is one with them, so as they may make their hand. 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher v. iii. 68 Y' haue made a fine hand fellowes? 1669 W. Hacke (1699) III. 69 We should have made a better hand of them. 1702 C. Mather vii. App. 68/2 Through the Disadvantages of their Feet by the Snow, they could make no Hand on it. 1726 J. Swift I. ii. iii. 43 The Farmer..concluding I soon must dye, resolved to make as good a Hand of me as he could. 1808 W. Windham Let. 21 Oct. in (1812) I. 98 I do not find that I make much hand (I should rather perhaps say much foot) in walking. 1855 Mar. 249/1 He made a fair hand at his business in the pantry and cabin. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ (1891) 90 I don't suppose you'd have made much hand of them by yourself. 1924 G. A. England 189 Stop chin-waggin', now an' get to work. Ye won't make arr hand, just talkin'! 1998 G. Shortland xv. 186 They were making a good hand of hacking through the tangle of language to get to Shakespeare's human heart. the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to 1569 J. Leslie f. 44v To dispatche and make a hande with the lorde Darley. 1577 R. Holinshed II. 1224/1 They falling to the spoyle made a hande, and therwith departed. 1583 P. Stubbes sig. H5 To giue them such medicines..as will soone make a hand of them. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. ix. lx It makes a hand with it, and digesteth it presently. 1678 J. Bunyan 93 He [sc. Moses] had doubtless made a hand of me, but that one came by, and bid him forbear. View more context for this quotation 1737 5 Oct. 146/1 I went with them into Marybone-fields, and there they laid Violence upon me. I said, pray don't make a Hand of me. 1756 15 May 171/1 I know he has been several Times going to make a-hand of himself, to drown himself, &c. 1864 T. Carlyle IV. xv. v. 70 Hungarian Majesty..attacks Seckendorf furiously..in mid-winter; and makes a terrible hand of him. 1887 T. Darlington I mun know about th' markets afore I sell: I dunna want to be made a hand on. 1896 S. R. Crockett xx. 156 My lad, they have made a hand of you, but we will dowse them yet for that! l. Phrases with play. the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > evasive deception, shiftiness > act evasively [verb (intransitive)] > practise double-dealing 1530 J. Palsgrave f. cl/1 If ones appercyue you howe you play on bothe ye hands he wyll neuer truste you after. 1546 J. Heywood i. x. sig. Ciii Colle vnder canstyk she can plaie on both hands, Dissimulacion well she vnderstands. c1550 (1979) xi. 70 The kyng of ingland playit vitht baytht the handis. 1604 N. Breton sig. Cv Thou wouldest neither carrie a ring, clawe a backe, plaie on both hands, be no wagge-wanton, with thy mistresse, nor Iudas with thy maister. 1613 S. Purchas 358 He slew..King of the Hunnes, for playing on both hands. 1763 i. 10 These old attornies are damn'd slippery fellows, and can play with both hands. 1859 J. Browne x. 498 This double dealing; this playing with both hands was very unlike the conduct of the Apostles. 1913 J. Cartwright vi. 193 ‘There are those’, he said mysteriously, ‘who play on both hands; they tell Your Excellency many things, and us somewhat.’ m. Phrases with put. the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > exert oneself or make an effort [verb (intransitive)] a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. viii. ii. 446 Now putte we oure hondes..to descriue som propurtees of heuene. ?c1450 (1891) l. 6056 Þat to þi seruyce puttys þair hands. 1535 Deut. xii. 18 All yt thou puttest thine hande vnto. 1631 J. Preston 45 If God himselfe put not his hand to the worke no man is able to believe. 1633 Bp. J. Hall i. 609 I will not put my hand to redresse it. 1758 B. Thornton 22 July 121 My Wife, though she could be of as much use as a Shopman to me, if she would put her hand to it, is now only in my way. 1768 A. Ross ii. 86 Among us a' a ravell'd hesp ye've made, Sae now, put too your hand, an help to red. 1849 E. E. Napier I. 163 A sober, rough-and-ready ‘Totty’, who is able to..put his hand to any thing. 1879 M. J. Guest ix. 80 Whatever he put his hand to, he did it ‘with all his might’. 1966 F. Nwapa viii. 170 Any trade she put her hand to was profitable. 1999 A. Desai (2000) ii. 21 There was not a thing Uma put her hand to that did not turn to failure. (b) the mind > possession > taking > seizing > seize [verb (transitive)] 1455 in J. D. Marwick (1871) 81 That the said Sir James sal nocht put handis na tak na vitalis at the port of Leth bot [etc.].] 1495 in (1839) I. 419/2 The lordis..deliueris that..the said James [etc.]..sulde put ther handis to the saidis landis and males therof. 1535 Exod. xxii. 8 ([He] shal sweare) that he hath not put his hande vnto his neghbours good. 1734 Let. 1 July in J. Mercer (1748) 2 Nor will you have any Use for the former Discharges. But if you could put your Hand upon them, you may give them up. 1832 C. M. Goodridge 25 [We] got into her, with such articles as we could immediately put our hands on. 1842 J. H. Newman VI. viii. 111 Perhaps..we can put our hand, as it were, on a time in our childhood [when, etc.]. 1931 5 Dec. 2471/2 The ‘Brooklyn Eagle’..complains bitterly about distribution: ‘About seven hundred readers have written in..asking where they can put their hands on one.’ 1972 L. Henderson vii. 57 Right now he couldn't put his hands on a hundred quid. 1997 C. Carson (1998) 178 I remember writing the quote on the blank side of a..requisition slip, but I cannot put my hand on it now. the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > treat violently [verb (transitive)] 1526 (1814) II. 312/1 Waltir Scott,..with ane greite multitude of brokin men, lychtit in his hienes gaite,..tending to haue put handis to his persoune. a1560 W. Kennedy Passioun of Christ in J. A. W. Bennett (1955) 1017 O cruell Ded, so bald how durst thow be, To put handis in him that aucht the nocht. a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece (1858) 27568 So cruellie..For to put hand other in king or prince. 1644 S. Rutherford xxxi. 330 It is no lesse unlawfull to threatten a King then to put hands on him. 1701 J. Brand 14 Upon which Belus.., despairing of life, put hand in himself, and became his own executioner. 1756 tr. G. Wishart i. xvii. 154 By this means he expected, the enemy would be deterred from murdering their prisoners; and that they would not be so hardy as to put hand in them while an army was yet in the field. 1827 C. I. Johnstone II. x. 244 O, the unhanged villain! put hand to himsel' without first satisfying to the last plack, principal and interest, me his lawfu' creditor! 1889 H. Johnston vi. 65 Girtle..suspected his sister Girzie of ‘putting hand on them’. 1897 E. W. Hamilton xviii You haena the spunk to put hand to yourself. 1566 W. Painter I. xlvi. f. 265v I am assured that laying your hand vpon your heart, you will accuse your self..of that newe ingratitude. 1699 T. Brown iv. 27 Put your Hand to your Heart and tell me fairly. 1746 Aug. 399/2 I can lay my hand on my heart, and say, that the greatest injury I ever did was to myself. 1832 2 June 361/1 I can put my hand on my heart, and say sincerely, I would not change situations with those who have thought it their duty to put me here. 1917 M. C. Oemler xiv. 280 ‘Sure, parson? Hand on your heart?’ ‘Sure. Hand on my heart.’ 1992 A. Gray (1993) xii. 82 I swear with hand on heart that monetary gain had no part in my determination to turn Bella Baxter into Bella Wedderburn. 2007 13 May (Home ed.) b7/2 Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right. 1584 R. Greene f. 58 I will lift my hand against none that commeth from Metelyne, but against Lucianus onely. 1646 P. Warwick 2 Those men, that have raised their hands against their King since, and pursued Him to save themselves. 1757 W. Wilkie v. 150 Against the foe I'll [never] lift a hostile hand; Till, righteously fulfil'd, the truce expires. 1814 W. Scott I. xv. 223 Mac-Ivor said, very gallantly, he would never raise his hand against a grey head that was so much respected as my father's. 1844 J. H. Stocqueler 198 It is cowardly to raise a hand to one who is incapable of physical retort. 1902 H. Lawson 165 [He] took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves, ready, as he said afterwards, ‘to roll into’ either the father or the son if one raised a hand against the other. 1995 E. Toman viii. 188 ‘Amn't I a priest?’ he reminded her. No one would lift a hand against God's anointed. 2004 (Nexis) 8 July (Features section) 23 My father never raised a hand to me; my mother smacked me once. o. Phrases with stand. (a) to stand (a person) in (also †on) hand. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) l. 11135 Wind heom stod an honde. J. Metham (1916) l. 1215 It stondyth yow an-hand wysely yow to aray. c1460 (?c1400) l. 3173 (MED) I take no reward of othir mennys case, But oonliche of myne own, that stont me most an hond. 1470 J. Paston in (2004) I. 561 Look that ye spare for no cost to do serche for itt, for it wyll stand yow on hand, I feell by the werkyng. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. ccxxii. 289 [They] fought valiantly, the which stode them well in hand to do, for ye naueroyse had caused them somwhat to recule. c1555 lf. 118 It standeth vs in hand..to prostrate ourselves before him. 1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Pref. Ep. 3 It standeth us on hand to strengthen ourselves in the infallible certaintie of the holy Christian Religion. 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay i. 9 To lay forth the proofes..it would stand me in hand to ransacke the whole world. 1602 W. Watson 303 Doth it not stand her in hand to preuent that the number of catholiks do not increase? 1655 H. L'Estrange 89 It stood him in hand to stand upon his guard. 1667 O. Heywood vii. 54 It stands us all in hand to try our selves. 1703 J. Clark ii. 100 It stands you in hand, to come under His hand, as His Patient. 1786 I. Perkins Poem in H. R. Stiles (1869) 99 Sence it doth stand each one in hand To happyfy his life. a1825 R. Forby (1830) ‘To stand in hand’, to concern, behove, or interest. Ex. ‘It stands you in hand to look to that’. 1848 J. R. Bartlett To stand in hand, to concern, to behoove... This phrase is a colloquial one in New England. Ex. ‘It stands you in hand to attend to your business’. 1852 W. L. G. Smith xi. 197 It stands us all in hand, to lend our assistance. 1928 F. P. Harlow v. 87 It stands us in hand to always be on the stoop. 1969 23 Oct. 4/3 It stands us in hand to do our own thinking, when we enter the voting booth. 1874 23 July 4/1 In the end the latter agreed to ‘stand his hand’ at the nearest public-house on payment being made in money. 1892 H. Nisbet viii. 58 I used to see her..‘standing her hand’ liberally to all who happened to be in the bar. 1946 11 Jan. 5/1 Mr. Macmillan..said accused was inclined to stand his hand when he went into public houses and wasted money in that way. 2020 @Fr8styAK 15 July in twitter.com (accessed 30 July 2021) Someone my old man knew was called ‘crime’—apparently he never stood his hand and was really tight with money—hence, ‘crime—doesn't pay’!! p. Phrases with take. (a) to take in (also †on) hand: to take the charge or responsibility of; to set oneself to carry out or deal with; to undertake; (occasionally) spec. to undertake the discipline, care, or cure (of a person). the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake [verb (transitive)] a1350 (c1307) in R. H. Robbins (1959) 22 Þat oure kyng hede take on honde Al engelond to ȝeme & wysse. 1424 (1814) II. 6/2 The commissaris..had tane on hand to mak the first payment. c1450 (1905) II. 284 How durste þou take on hand to chalange me? 1526 Luke i. f. lxxjv For as moche as many have taken in hond to compyle a treates off thoo thynges. 1590 in R. Pitcairn (1833) I. i. 206 Fylit for taking in hand, to help Johnne Reoch in Dalquhing of his seiknes, be Wichcraft. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden i. 290 Whose..vertues, if in verse I now should take in hand For to comprize. 1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer i. 268 T'appease Achilles I will take in hand. 1714 W. Forbes Pref. 7 Advocates admitted with a quality that they should not take in hand to plead in any..difficult cause without..assistance. 1795 J. Bonner xviii. 140 There is hardly any thing that is requisite to be done about bees that I would not take in hand to perform. 1836 Mar. 168/2 Many took in hand to write gospels, but all have not been received. 1877 July 215/1 We are glad to see practical gardeners taking in hand to try this matter in this way. 1911 Mar. 24/1 I understand that one of our members took in hand to escort another brother's wife to visit his sister. 2002 D. V. Jones ii. 25 A rich and complex heritage which they then took in hand to shape and reform. the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake [verb (transitive)] ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 148 Presumpcio..nimeð mare on hont þenne ha ouercume mei.] c1390 Vision St. Paul (Vernon) in C. Horstmann (1892) i. 254 (MED) Spousbrekers and lechours þei be, Þat..Nolde no penaunce take on honde. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) Prol. l. 904 Wher dedly werre is take on honde. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour (Adv.) i. 268 Wedding is ye hardest band Yat ony man may tak on hand. 1535 Psalms c[i]. 4 I wil take no wicked thinge in honde. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo (1586) i. 22 To morrow..we wil take againe our matter in hand. 1605 Bp. J. Hall II. §12 Before I take any man in hand, I will knowe whether hee be a thorne or a nettle. 1638 F. Junius 100 Masters..should take the scholars in hand with a fatherly minde. a1708 W. Beveridge (1711) III. 28 By wisdom, I mean that attribute in God, whereby He orders and manages whatsoever He takes in hand, by the best means. 1749 H. Fielding III. vii. iii. 21 Very obedient to me she was when a little Child, before you took her in Hand. View more context for this quotation 1846 July 56/1 The carpenters that took it in hand were the friars and schoolmen, that stretched their line over it and brought it into better shape. 1885 G. Allen I. xi. 236 I've taken you in hand. 1915 J. Webster 196 She never sees a pretty girl badly dressed but she longs to take her in hand and make her over. 2010 P. Murray 529 Don't you worry about it, I'll take it in hand. 1424 in (2007) 1424/2a At na man tak on hand in tyme tocum to mowe or mak weir aganis other. 1545 in J. H. Burton (1877) 1st Ser. I. 2 That nane of our soverane ladyis liegis tak upon hand to refuise the said money of the prices forsaidis. 1668 in T. J. Salmon (1913) 92 That no persone..presum or tak upon hand..to exact or receave any more [etc.]. the world > space > relative position > posture > position of specific body parts > position specific body part [verb (transitive)] > arms or hands > specific hand > hold or clasp (one's or another's hands) 1536 Bp. J. Longland sig. Ciiiv They take handes to gedre eueryche with other. 1565 in F. J. Furnivall (1897) 68 The said Roger and Ellin..toke handes together. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. ii. 378 Come vnto these yellow sands, and then take hands . View more context for this quotation 1661 25 Then take hands, and take chance, And I will lead the dance. 1709 R. Steele No. 11. ⁋3 The whole Company..take Hands; then, at a certain sharp Note, they move round, and kick as kick can. 1771 E. Griffith II. 274 A pair..as firmly united as any that ever took hands, from the first wedding in Eden, down to this present day. 1847 Ld. Tennyson vi. 132 Kiss her; take her hand, she weeps. 1879 20 Dec. 187/2 The Sandwich Islanders take hands and rub noses, uttering, in a low, wailing tone the word, ‘Aloka’. 1916 J. Joyce iii. 133 Take hands together, my dear children, and you will be happy together and your hearts will love each other. 2001 R. Rand viii. 144 He walked over to me, took my hand, recrossed the street, and led me up to the side entrance. 1799 G. E. Sargent v. 60 There is the baby, cry, cry, crying, and nobody to take a hand at nursing it but me. 1851 19 June Ogilvie.., determined to show that all the trade shall not be done by his neighbors, takes a hand in the drug war. 1882 May 147/2 The United States, Mr. Blaine,..Mr. Shipherd, the Peruvian Company..have all ‘taken a hand’ in arranging the terms of peace. 1975 Autumn 99 Nature had taken a hand, so that now, to get a glimpse of the western sky..it was necessary to fight one's way up..through an entanglement of bush and brier. 2001 C. Coker iv. 74 They have been able to mobilise public sentiment.., and to force reluctant governments to take a hand in relief work. 1995 (Univ. N. Carolina, Chapel Hill) (typescript) Apr. 10 Talk to the hand, command to keep quiet. Usually accompanied by holding the hand in front of the other person's face. 1997 (Nexis) 18 Aug. b8 This next phrase needs a rap beat and an open palm with a rolling hand motion up towards someone's face while saying: ‘Talk to the hand 'cause the face don't understand.’ 1998 20 July 28/3 Talk to the hand, 'cause the beard ain't listening. 2003 R. Williams 37 Joe You Cleveland bwois are wurtless and you know it. Dwayne Talk to the hand. 2010 (Nexis) 14 Mar. 14 Tell it to the hand, the face ain't listening. c1480 (a1400) St. Paul l. 57 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) I. 30 Aymo recordis In his saw, þat paule ay, fra þe cok craw to þe fyfte our of þe day,..þis oysit ay, with his handis to be wirkand, and to þe nycht syne ay prechand. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine f. cccxxxviii/1 Cryspyn and Cryspynyan..folowed the stappes of saynt powle thappostle, that is to saye, to laboure with their handes for to prouyde to them necessaryly to lyue. 1538 Eph. iv. C He yt dyd steale, let hym nowe not steal: but rather let hym labour in workynge wyth hys handes that whych is good, that he maye haue where of to geue vnto hym that suffreth nede. 1655 tr. C. Sorel iv. 17 The Father of Hortensius did keep sheep, and was constrained to work with his hands for his daily bread. 1791 J. Boswell anno 1776 II. 35 [Johnson:] We work with our heads, and make the boobies of Birmingham work for us with their hands. 1837 H. Martineau II. 311 There are a few, called by the slaves ‘mean whites’, signifying whites who work with the hands. 1874 23 861 Labouring with their hands from morning to night, and living from hand to mouth, they are..necessarily the most ignorant as well as the poorest. 1903 Jan. 6/1 ‘We have machines here.’ ‘But,’ I almost interrupted, ‘I'd rather work with my hands.’ 1979 R. P. Coleman et al. iii. 53 A white-collar worker can feel superior to ‘people who work with their hands’ even while earning little more or no more than they. 2005 B. Bullington iv. 19 I love a guy who works with his hands and can fix things. P3. Proverbial phrases and idioms. a. Originally and chiefly British. a safe pair of hands. 1851 J. Pycroft x. 185 The safest pair of hands in England. 1933 W. J. A. Davies v. 37 A safe pair of hands is of paramount importance. 1981 G. Boycott ix. 74 Botham inexplicably tried to hit Richards over mid-off and lofted the ball to Holding, who has a safe pair of hands and made the catch look easy. 1995 (Nexis) 14 Mar. 48 Though KL won, some doubts were raised about their Aussie keeper..who wasn't exactly a safe pair of hands last night. 2000 (Electronic ed.) 9 Mar. Van der Gouw is..regarded as a safe pair of hands. 1972 H. Wilson in 10 Oct. 10/6 I don't think I fight an election by trump cards... People form a view based on all sorts of things, like the most experienced team and the safest pair of hands. 1983 21 Mar. 15/7 With a new and untried Governor at the Bank of England, the case for a safe pair of hands at the Fed is very strong indeed. 1996 (Electronic ed.) 4 Aug. He does not show off at heavyweight gatherings, and has proved a safe pair of hands with tricky international issues. 2000 25 July ii. 3/6 Even Margaret Beckett with her schoolmistressly ability to defend the Government, has proved to be a safe pair of hands. 2011 11 July 4/1 A Fleet Street veteran who..was widely regarded as a safe pair of hands, someone to steady the ship after the recent storm. OE Ælfric (Royal) (1997) xxxvi. 489 Heora mod wæs hluttor & mid clænnysse afylled, & hi mid clænum handum gode ælmihtigum æt his weofode þenodon. OE tr. Defensor (1969) lxxxi. 417 Beatus est qui..crucem christi..sequitur puris manibus et candido pectore : eadig ys se þe..rode cristes folgaþ mid clænum handum & mid hwitum breoste. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job xvii. 9 The riȝtwis shal holden his weie, and with clene hondis [L. mundis manibus] adde strengthe. c1450 (1900) 235 (MED) Makyth clene ȝoure handys, þat is, ȝoure werkys. 1539 Psalms xxiv. 4 He that hath cleane handes and a pure hert. 1647 G. Wither 6/1 When, you shall heare your Pipers play till none will either dance, or pay; Or, till among you doth begin A second bloodie matachin; Then, will clean hands, and honest hearts, Besteed you more, then Irish darts. 1667 S. Pepys 19 May (1974) VIII. 222 My Lord Treasurer..is said to die with the cleanest hands that ever any Lord Treasurer did. 1734 May 255/2 The Business of these several Offices, has not been executed with more Address or cleaner Hands, than when manag'd by single Persons. 1778 E. Apthorp 360 To reap the benefit of the mysteries, he ought to have clean hands, and a pure mind. 1896 Morley in Dec. 495 You would go..into the councils of Europe with clean hands. 1965 J. Stone iii. 101 There may be instanced the bonae fidei action of the Roman law, the principles of ‘good faith’ and ‘clean hands’. 2001 22 Oct. 54/1 It's fair to say that no group in the region—including Pakistan's government—has clean hands. We're not in Kansas. the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > shortness in time [phrase] > instantaneously c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) (1940) l. 349 (MED) As þu turnest þin hond. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 23223 (MED) Quils þou moght turn þi hand abute, It suld worth rose witvten dute. 1564 A. Golding tr. Justinus i. f. 7 The kyngedome of the Persians..was in the turning of a hand brought into one mannes hande agayne. 1599 H. Buttes sig. F5 In the turne of an hand: in the twinckling of an eye. a1632 T. Taylor (1642) i. ii. xxxvi. 289 In the turning of an hand they were all in flames. 1698 J. Vanbrugh 78 His Passion is metamorphos'd in the turn of a hand: He's refin'd into a Platonick Admirer. 1772 Aug. 256/1 The rich and beautiful ornaments..were, in the turning of a hand, pluckt up, and carried away by the Turkes. 1868 July 841/1 Suddenly, in the turn of a hand, the vine and grapes vanished away. 1915 L. P. Gratacap iv. 128 Now in the turning of a hand the crowding ice packs were back. c1330 (?c1300) (Auch.) l. 3352 Þe Ascopard be strong & sterk, Mani hondes makeþ liȝt werk! c1450 MS Douce 52 in (1906) 50 Many hondys makyn lyȝth worke. 1539 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus f. xxxvi Many handes make a lyghte burthen. a1576 W. Bullein Dial. Sorenes f. viiiv, in (1579) Many handes make light worke, and many shoulders passe small of great burdens. 1616 N. Breton sig. B3 Many handes make quicke worke. 1658 J. Spencer 292 They say, That many hands make light work; but it is usually seen, that many hands make sleight work. 1703 P. Rowe iv. 11 Many hands make light work in dispatching the Ship in port. 1780 J. Keys xv. 236 As according to the old adage, ‘Many hands make light work’, so two pecks of Bees in one hive, will procure twice the quantity of honey than if the same number..had been divided into two hives. 1857 A. Ward & M. N. Ward iii. 33 They were all very industrious, and so many hands certainly made labour light. 1886 24 How light the work seemed when so many hands joined to make it so! 1921 Apr. 312 You'd be surprised how efficiently many hands made easy work of two weeks' of cooking for ourselves. 2009 (Nexis) 26 Dec. 5 The amount of kit was immense but everyone mucked in and many hands made light work. 1559 W. Bavand tr. J. Ferrarius iii. f. 41v As it were one hande washeth an other [L. ita enim χεὶρ χεῖρα νίπτει], and one man aideth an other. 1573 J. Sanford tr. L. Guicciardini f. 110v One hand washeth an other, and both wash the face [It. Una man' laua l'altra, e tutte due lauan' il viso]. 1617 F. Moryson iii. i. ii. 17 He that writes often, shall often receiue letters for answere: for one hand washeth another. 1727 D. Defoe II. ii. iv. 118 One hand washes the other hand, and both hands wash the Face. 1772 5 One hand washes another, as the saying is. 1836 P. Hone 12 Mar. (1927) I. 203 Persons in business..make, as the saying is, ‘one hand wash the other’. 1885 Nov. 842/2 A ‘wash’—one hand washing the other—is an arrangement between brokers whereby one fictitiously buys what the other fictitiously sells..to keep up or advance the price. 1961 J. Heller (1962) iv. 33 One hand washes the other. Know what I mean? You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. 2002 28 Jan. 21/2 Part of the reason..is the sense that one hand washes the other. f. the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > in preparation [phrase] > in a state of preparation or readiness > in fit condition (for) a1500 (a1460) (1994) I. xxiii. 293 1 Tortor. Yit efte, whils thi hande is in. 2 Tortor. Pull therat with som kyn gyn! 1586 A. Day i. sig. F2v There was no rakehell..but his hand was in with him, and that he was a copesmate for him. 1598 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 134 And if my hand be out, then belike your hand is in. 1668 I. Barrow Let. in S. P. Rigaud & S. J. Rigaud (1841) (modernized text) II. 54 Now my hand is in, I will add briefly these theorems. 1749 Ld. Chesterfield 17 Oct. (1932) (modernized text) IV. 1421 Write a line or two of it [sc. German] every day, to keep your hand in. 1828 W. Carr (ed. 2) (at cited word) To have the hand in, to be accustomed to business. 1832 H. Martineau vi. 78 It was some time before she got her hand in, as we say. 1875 M. Pattison v. 354 Mere exercises to keep his hand in. 1891 T. Hardy I. xvii. 214 ‘I'll begin milking now, to get my hand in’, said Tess. 1936 14 Mar. 13/1 ‘Maybe you're looking for a fight,’ suggested Peso... ‘Just come from one’, stated Shooks quietly. ‘Maybe I sorta got my hand in. Guess I could digest another.’ 2011 1 Jan. (Mag.) 11/2 He'll be keeping his hand in by bringing people down to the studio on days he isn't busy writing his memoirs. the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > unaccustomedness or state of disuse > unaccustomed to [phrase] > out of practice 1598 W. Shakespeare iv. i. sig. D4 Wide a'the bow hand, yfaith your hand is out . View more context for this quotation 1683 4 When any Mischief's acted by our Sotts, Make Titus blame his horrid Popish Plots; But's Hand is out, 'ts long since he kist the Book, Which makes me fear his Oaths will ne'er be took. 1733 H. Fielding (London ed.) iii. iii. 31 For a Supper I have not dress'd one so long, that I am afraid my Hand is out. 1798 T. Wallace i. ix. 111 Every one..knows what is meant by the workman when he complains that his hand is out... At this time he is incapable of working either so quick or so well as at other times. 1849 C. Dickens Apr. (1981) V. 526 My hand is out in the matter of Copperfield. To-day and yesterday I have done nothing. 1885 Feb. (Suppl.) 96/2 ‘We are going down,’ he said to me one day, ‘and it's my fault; my hand's out and I can't get it in again.’ 1902 Dec. 454/2 When I started on my work I found that my hand was out. 1922 M. Widdemer ix. 212 The poor dear has been a mother so long that her hand's out, as she'd put it, for any other profession. (c) society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > handball, etc. > [noun] > other handball games 1478 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Jan. 1478 §29. m. 3 Dyvers newe ymagyned pleys called closshe, keyles, halfbowle, handyn and handowte, and quekeborde. 1607 J. Cowell sig. Ll3 Hand in and Hand out,..is the name of an vnlawful game. 1898 Apr. 370 The playing of hand-ball, hand in and hand out, and all the kindred pastimes to which the soul of boyhood is certain to addict itself. 1927 23 July 67 Hand in and Hand Out or some other early form of cricket. 2002 D. Block in S. McAfee (2009) 610/2 The medieval bat-and-ball game ‘hand-in and hand-out’, which was similar to the game ‘cat and dog’. 1865 9 Dec. 3/5 He has brought the art of making the hand quicker than the eye to the very highest state of perfection. 1882 17 Aug. There are several legerdemain performers at the various auction shops... ‘Now, gentlemen, I will cause a transformation to take place which demonstrates that the hand is quicker than the eye.’ 1914 Feb. 172/1 The hand is quicker than the eye in detecting fraudulent bank notes. 1972 3 Jan. 33/2 I suppose I ought to explain how these ten men happened to qualify for the list. (Watch carefully now: the hand is quicker than the eye, I hope.) 2008 (Nexis) 16 Aug. s6 From at least one angle, Cavic appeared to have made it home first. But, as Cavic said, ‘The hand is quicker than the eye.’ 1836 G. W. Bethune in Apr. 384 It may be said, with great truth and certainty, that the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. 1873 W. R. Wallace in 15 July 448/2 For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rocks the world. a1916 ‘Saki’ (1919) 158 You can't prevent it; it's in the nature of the sex. The hand that rocks the cradle rocks the world, in a volcanic sense. 1979 12 June 9/6 The hand that rocks the cradle may rule the world but..the hand itself is controlled by the state. 2011 (Nexis) 10 June 53 The imams may be male, but the day-to-day life of the country..is ruled by the hand that rocks the cradle. 1883 Mar. 235 He always was good with his hands... I sometimes think it is the only thing he is fit for—carpentering and odd jobs of that kind. 1958 G. Greene (1962) 99 There was a lot of banging and clanking and something broke. ‘Rudy isn't very good with his hands,’ Beatrice said. 1987 J. Epstein 19 By now I was convinced that I had a short attention span, little perseverance.., and wasn't very good with my hands. 2001 M. Jones et al. in H. Gilbert 449/1 My Tucker could maybe do something. He is awful good with his hands. 1539 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus sig. A.iiijv Longae regum manus. Kynges haue longe handes. 1559 W. Bavand tr. J. Ferrarius ii. iii. f. 25v Kinges haue long handes [L. longas Regibus esse manus]. 1583 C. Hollyband 17 What if I should call thee theefe? What if I should say that thou hast long handes? 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini i. xxiii. 37 Potent men, who have long hands, and short consciences..would certainly in time work their revenge. 1687 tr. G. P. Marana I. iv. xvi. 339 The Cardinal Favourite of France has such long Hands, that he make a [1691 makes] Seizures in those Places which are not subject to his Jurisdiction. 1770 S. Foote ii. 32 We'll shew him what long hands the law has. 1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vi, in 2nd Ser. I. 145 His father is a powerful man—hath long hands—reaches as far as he can. 1992 T. Zeleza i. iii. 46 Yes, the government has long hands. the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > be occupied or busy (in or at something) [verb (intransitive)] > be fully occupied a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) III. 1219 Ye shall have bothe youre hondys fulle of me. 1555 R. Eden Disc. Vyage rounde Worlde in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria f. 225v If he rather desyred warre, he shoulde haue his handes full. 1633 P. Massinger v. i. sig. L2 You shall haue your hands full, Vpon the least incitement. 1720 D. Defoe 68 Horn..had his Hands full with the main Battle. 1788 R. Twining Let. 18 July in (1887) 148 To-day we dine with a principal merchant, and sup with the British Consul, so you see we have our hands full. 1820 Ld. Byron 28 Sept. (1977) VII. 182 I had my hands full—and my head too just then,—so it can be no great shakes—I mean the play. 1874 W. Stubbs (1875) I. xii. 479 The king had his hands full in Poictou. 1928 16 June 2441 Since writing is a man-size job, he would have his hands full. 2011 July 122/1 She's had her hands full finding young women for the prime minister. 1857 2 Apr. 4/2 So little did he consider Mr. Pellatt had put his hand in the till that he had not even looked to his account. 1871 18 Oct. 263/2 Ploughboys make bad shopmen: they've generally picked up a nasty habit of having their hand in the till. 1897 Feb. 95 Great imperial patriot-politicians dipped their hands in the till. 1913 9 June 6/3 It was described as a ‘theft’; the Postmaster General was said to have been caught ‘with his hand in the till’. 1961 24 Mar. 79/1 Ramses kept the scribes in line by a rough rule-of-nose: anyone caught with his hand in the till had his nose cut off. 1990 C. L. Vincent iv. vii. 128 The case of one man who got caught with his hand in the till and was forced to resign came up several times. 2006 G. Russo (2007) xi. 264 He was straight as an arrow. He was the only major Chicago politician who didn't have his hand in the till. c1475 (c1420) J. Page (Egerton) (1876) 4 (MED) Buschys and brerys and boughys they brende, And made hyt as bare as my honde. 1606 A. Craig sig. Gvii His face as haireles as his hand. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán ii. iii. viii. 337 A base vnder-Barber comes vnto mee.., and with his Razor, makes my head and Beard: as bare as my hand. 1697 J. Vanbrugh (ed. 2) 9 He has a pair of Cheeks like two Bladders; a Nose as flat as your Hand, and a Forehead like a Bull. 1731 tr. Comte de Forbin I. 252 They strip'd me as bare as my Hand. 1771 T. Smollett I. 30 By that time she had taken the second pill, Sir, by Heaven! she was as smooth as my hand. 1876 R. Browning i The room was as bare as your hand. 1883 Dec. 147/1 That coast..is flat as your hand, as we say. 1915 June (advt.) (verso front cover) For eight or nine years I have been a bald-headed man; the top of my head was as bare as my hand. 1998 R. Price ii. 63 We stood on a low rock ledge maybe eight or ten feet above a plain as flat as your hand so far as I could see. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 3313 ‘Say me now’, he said, ‘be þi hand, Has þou any fader liuand?’ c1440 (?a1400) l. 3643 (MED) Thay are harlotes halfe, I hette ȝow myn hounde! 1550 J. Hooper iii. f. lviii In case it be damnable in a noughty matter to sweare by creatures, is it not the same trow ye,..to sweare by a mans hande. 1600 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 325 Bened. Tarry good Beatrice, by this hand I loue thee. Beatrice Vse it for my loue some other way than swearing by it. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. i. 187 Master, for my hand, Both our inuentions meet and iumpe in one. View more context for this quotation 1664 T. Killigrew Parsons Wedding i. iii in 80 Scorning me, who (by this hand) lov'd her parlously. 1722 (ed. 2) V. 297 It was a general Custom all over the World to swear by the Hand. 1784 W. Hayley Happy Prescription ii. i, in 53 I swear by this hand, That I feel as I touch it my genius expand. 1897 29 Apr. 681/2 I swear by this good right hand! 1914 J. S. Angus 58 Hand, a word of asseveration, ‘By mi hand’. P5. hand in collocation with hand. the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > in order, sequence, or succession [phrase] > from one person to another c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 1033 Þus is þis eit-lond i-gon from honde to hond. a1400 in C. Horstmann (1896) II. 67 Þo world makus a mon to ryse & falle, And chulles hym as men don a balle þat is casten fro hande to hande. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil (1957) iii. v. l. 141 Goldyn cowpis went fra hand to hand. 1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin i. f. 18 Their writings came to posteritie..from hand to hand. 1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc 10 The word was given from hand to hand through the company. 1721 J. Kelly 55 A Tale never loses in the telling. The Fame or Report of a matter of Fact..commonly receives an Addition as it goes from Hand to Hand. 1765 Hist. in 90 Such optional notes as are then in the circle may freely pass from hand to hand during any after period. 1819 W. Scott II. xii. 209 Kind service cannot be chucked from hand to hand like a shuttlecock or stool-ball. 1882 W. Besant ix. 217 This tract had been circulated from hand to hand. 1945 E. Waugh i. 23 I..organized lines of men to pass the stores from hand to hand down the steep bank. 2004 S. Mehta 216 My eyes are anxiously following the gun as it goes from hand to hand. the world > space > distance > nearness > near by [phrase] > close together society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > [adverb] > at close-quarters society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > [adverb] > in single combat or duel a1439 J. Lydgate (Bodl. 263) iv. l. 1380 The kyng & he walkyng hond be hond. a1450 (?a1300) (Caius) (1810) l. 4364 Hand be hand to geve bekyr. 1802 A. Radcliffe (1834) I. 160 A pale and gleaming band, As if by glance of moonlight shown, Stalked, in silence, hand by hand. 1873 Oct. 306 She must be led hand by hand with wisdom like the younger child. 1919 M. B. Petersen 287 Condemned to suffer lifelong years, Bleeding together, hand by hand! 2009 106 19649/1 Specification of the ecological assumptions of the problem and selection of the modeling method should go hand by hand. the world > space > distance > nearness > near by [phrase] > close together society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > [adverb] > in single combat or duel 1490 W. Caxton tr. liiii. sig. kviv To fyghte wyth hym hande for hande. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius (1858) I. 371 Tha kingis..raid togidder to the toun, Hand for hand. 1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus iii. f. 26 Being enforced to ioyne hand for hand, they valiauntly vsed the sworde. 1669 4 Hand for hand together we ran. 1829 J. Hogg in Aug. 59 I walked up stairs wi' her, hand for hand. society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > [adverb] > in single combat or duel c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) iii. l. 2928 (MED) And knyȝtly boþe þei fouȝten hond of hond. a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Lamb.) (1887) i. l. 10096 Ȝyf y may ought wyþ hem mele, Hand of [?a1400 Petyt to] hand strokes schul dele. c1450 (c1400) (1881) l. 394 That thai myght fight with hem anoon, Honde of honde. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville (Vitell.) l. 8174 (MED) Whan folkys at dyffence stonde To fyhte with hem hand off honde. 1759 J. Lindsay v. 40 [He] let himself down from thence hand under hand by a rope. 1804 11 92 [He] let himself down, hand under hand, by a rope. 1884 Sept. 833/1 He was amazed to find Miss Molly in a pink flannel gymnasium suit, descending from a lofty bar, hand under hand, down a long rope. 1922 E. Dejeans xxxiv. 318 She clung to the ropes, then let herself down hand under hand. 2010 M. Pouncey (2011) ii. 36 They climbed down, slowly, carefully, hand under hand. society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > [adverb] > at close-quarters society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > [adverb] > in single combat or duel c1540 (?a1400) (2002) f. 158 Neuer hond vnto hond harmyt he nother. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 89 Hond wið honde fuhten þa heȝe men. 1797 T. J. Mathias 47 Methinks as in a theatre I stand, Mark vice with folly saunt'ring hand with hand. 2012 A. Gomila iv. 53 Such a change went hand with hand with a reorganization of arithmetic thought. society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > [adverb] > in single combat or duel 1548 f. lviv To get vpon the walles and with hand to hand to graple with his enemy. 1591 sig. Bv He..had beene sufficiently tried, with better men than euer Cosbye durste to encounter with hande to hand. P6. hand in collocation with another noun. a. In collocation with foot. society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > bind, fetter, or shackle [verb (transitive)] OE Ælfric (Royal) (1997) xxxv. 476 Bindað hine handum & fotum & wurpað on þam yttrum þeostrum. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xi. 44 Sona stop forð se ðe dead wæs gebunden handan & fotan [L. ligatus pedes et manus institis]. a1225 (c1200) (1888) 17 He..hat hem me nemen and binden me, baðe handen and fiet. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 14355 Bath fete and hand þar was he bunden. a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk (Gough) (1905) 45 He was naylet hond and fote to þe crosse, and soo heuen vp, þat þe body paysude downe to hys fete. 1577 R. Willes & R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria f. 243v They al weare theyr lyuereys, that is, boords at theyr neckes, yronned hand and foote. 1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier v. sig. Kv They ranne at euer-each other hand and foote. ?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer (new ed.) xxii. 338 Wrapt about With sure and pinching cords, both foote and hand. 1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus 56 He is forth-with bound hand and foot. 1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais xiv. 99 I..with my cords tied him royster-like both hand and foot. 1735 I. 128 He left him ty'd Hand and Foot. 1797 S. James 35 He found two English gentlemen bound hand and foot to the ringbolts in the 'tween decks. 1851 Apr. 262 James..trembled hand and foot from fatigue and exertion. 1893 94 502/2 The Divisional Court held themselves bound hand and foot by the authorities. 1932 T. E. Lawrence tr. Homer xii Then have yourself lashed hand and foot into your ship against the housing of the mast. 2002 19 May 11/3 If anyone saw a sail and did not report it he would be bound hand and foot and cooked in the whalers' try-pots of boiling oil. society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > attend upon as servant [verb (transitive)] > assiduously c1300 (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1901) l. 64 He..seruede hem to hond and fot [a1425 BL Add. hande and fote]. c1475 (a1400) Sir Amadace (Taylor) in J. Robson (1842) 50 To serue him wele to fote and honde. 1829 M. M. Sherwood (ed. 2) vi. 85 I am ready to wait upon you hand and foot. 1883 R. Broughton I. ii. 25 There was one girl..who waited on him hand and foot. 1903 H. C. Clifford iv. 31 He would ask nothing better of the gods than just to be allowed to serve this girl—to serve her hand and foot for all time. 1955 L. P. Hartley x. 96 He has everything he wants and servants who wait on him hand and foot. 2009 23 Jan. 48/3 The dustmen are exacting, and have to be waited on hand and foot. 1642 A. Grosse Mans Misery without Christ xv, in 382 Their hearts accord, as the hand with the glove. 1653 J. Goodwin 76 He that can make hand and glove of this reason, and that which was to be proved by it, how gladly, were it possible, would I exchange understandings with him! 1775 Jan. 485 When his comic acting drew Repeated shouts, 'twas all from you Reported both, like hand and glove. 1798 G. Washington Let. in (1893) XIV. 129 He..has been as familiar with all..as the hand is with the glove. 1898 C. K. Burrow i. 5 They match each other like hand and glove. 1989 Dec. 21/1 Fitting the bill like a hand in a glove is the brand new Zildjian 20″ K Custom Dry. a1500 (Sloane) (1890) 43 (MED) Þey can none oþer shifte but fro þe hande to þe mowthe [Fr. de mayn en gule]. 1509 A. Barclay (Pynson) f. cxlviiv Theyr vayne myndes to farther thynges is dull Saue on that whiche from hande to mouth is brought. 1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin (lxviii. 11) Hungery folkes that are fed from hand too mouth. 1612 J. Smith 18 They only obserue times and seasons, and liue of what the Country naturally affordeth from hand to mouth. 1661 E. Hickeringill 56 No supply, But just from hand to mouth, no Granary. 1770 J. Wesley 12 May (1931) V. 189 I myself seldom have any money beforehand. I live, as I may say, from hand to mouth. 1790 W. Cowper 5 Feb. (1982) III. 343 I subsist as the poor are vulgarly said to do, from hand to mouth. 1825 Dec. 475 Ephemeral people, living from hand to mouth. 1887 A. Jessopp Introd. 14 We in the country are one and all living from hand to mouth. 1929 M. Samuel tr. S. Levin 46 He was a Luftmensch, living from hand to mouth. 1997 E. White (1998) ix. 364 You just live from hand to mouth but always seem to be having fun. 1873 W. K. Sullivan in E. O'Curry I. Introd. p. clxxii Ultimately, however, daughters appear to have become entitled to inherit all if there were no sons. The land thus given to a daughter was called ‘an inheritance of hand and thigh’. 1873 W. K. Sullivan in E. O'Curry I. Introd. p. clxxii An explanation of why the estate ‘of hand and thigh’ was one-third the estate of a Fiath. 1911 G. H. Orpen I. iv. 125 Land which had come to be regarded as heritable..such as lands belonging to the gelfine when the male succession failed.., and orba cruibh no sliasta (‘hand and thigh land’) of the mother, [etc.]. 1996 L. M. Bitel vi. 114 Daughters could also inherit what lawyers called orba cruib ocus slíasta, ‘land of hand and thigh’. 1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione ii. sig. U.iiiv L. Iohn was playinge at dice (as his vse is) and had lost a numbre of Ducates and was still on the losinge hande. 1651 N. Bacon 162 What the Chancery was in times past hath been already shewed; still it is in the growing and gaining hand. a1662 P. Heylyn (1670) 140 For a long time they were on the suffering hand, patiently yeilding up their lives to the Executioners. 1701 W. Paterson 133 When the Nation shall once be brought as much upon the thriving or growing, as now it is upon the declining hand. 1775 in II. xxv. 30 In general, our planters are very much on the thriving hand, yet few are rich. 1858 T. Carlyle II. vi. iv. 45 Friedrich Wilhelm's ill-humour..has long been upon the growing hand. 1908 21 Nov. 24/2 The price of wheat here has, of late, been on the advancing hand. 1993 L. S. Chafer i. 17 The erroneous impression exists..that God is only occasionally ‘on the giving hand’. P8. society > authority > rule or government > politics > international politics or relations > [adjective] > gesture of international friendship 1899 1 Feb. 4/1 Mr. Tree has a new drama in his mind—an old-time hands-across-the-sea subject. 1957 25 Oct. 635/2 What is this but empty rhetoric of the ‘hands-across-the-sea’ brand? 1971 C. Fick (1973) 88 It was supposed to be a hands-across-the-sea sort of thing. 2005 11 7 A famous hands-across-the-sea ecumenical conference. P9. 1960 J. Alsop et al. in 10 Dec. 1708/1 (title) ‘Hand-foot-and-mouth disease’ in Birmingham in 1959. 1994 8 Nov. d6/4 Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious. 2008 8 May 29/2 Cases of hand, foot and mouth first emerged in large numbers in eastern China in early March. Compounds C1. a. General attributive. 1908 20 Sept. Toilet Drug Snaps... Hand cream, worth up to $1.00. 2011 P. Van Stratum 2 His wife was sitting with her feet up on a stool, rubbing hand cream into her legs. 1821 Dec. 96/2 Choosing a pair of sticks.., and screwing them into two hard, thick leather hand-guards. 1869 C. Boutell tr. J. P. Lacombe viii. 128 At the handle the shaft [of the lance] passed through a small circular shield, or hand-guard (called a vamplate). 2004 Oct. 59/1 The handguards are of the round/short ribbed style with a delta ring at the rear. ?1679 (single sheet) When a hand kiss can such influence have, Then the Lady she thinks Cupids power is brave. 1861 C. Reade ii. 32 A sweet little coaxing hand-kiss. 2001 44 95 As an act of submission, the hand-kiss was acceptable. 1884 App. p.lxxxvi Hand Lotion—Acid acetic fort..Glycereini..Eau de Cologne [etc.]. 1934 17 Nov. 816/1 Milk of Almonds is a fragrant emollient hand-lotion. 2002 K. A. Wyka et al. xxx. 867/2 Hand lotions that contain petroleum or other oil-based emollients may affect the integrity of latex gloves. 1573 R. Lever iv. viii. 165 It is past your handreache, being three yardes highe. 1796 R. Southey ix. 258 At his side Within hand-reach his sword. 1996 3 Mar. 4 Help and extra supplies aren't a hand-reach away. 1835 A. Ure i. i. 20 The principle of the factory system then is, to substitute mechanical science for hand skill. 1902 30 Aug. 732/2 We should give fundamental, generalised hand skill, and then, as the child grows in experience, specialise in different directions. 1999 22 Nov. ii. 4/7 They find a way to learn and relearn the hand-skills. 1853 19 Jan. The cheapened power would banish hand toil and horse drudgery. 1913 E. C. Brooks 17 The most important machine yet devised for the liberation of the farmer from hand toil is the reaper. 1979 18 Oct. 9/1 In those days even telephone poles were put in the ground by hand toil. b. attributive, with the sense ‘performed by the hand or hands’. 1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil iv. 73 Fayth plighted in handclaspe. 1844 Dec. 284/1 Many a warm hand-clasp..many a welcome greeting, was crowded into that little space. 2000 Nov. 70/2 Tegla's handclasp is hard and sinewy. a1661 B. Holyday tr. Juvenal (1673) 92 Soft Bathyllus does the Leda dance, With rare hand-gesture. 1857 Oct. 372 That mystery of her sex, which interweaves itself into every thing, the eye-look, the hand-gesture, the foot-move, [etc.]. 1930 R. Paget ii. 56 The large number of ideas which cannot be symbolized directly by hand-gesture. 2011 (Nexis) 29 Dec. The sarcastic hand gesture to supporters following a 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest proved the final straw. 1827 J. Imlah 114 The hand-grasp of Friendship. 1913 Dec. 754/1 We all know the flabby, the clinging, the nervous, the icy hand-grasp. 2000 100 No. 4. 39/1 Specifically, look for..weakened hand grasp. 1823 13 Dec. That general brisk hand movement. 1924 R. M. Ogden tr. K. Koffka v. 254 During the hand-movements [Ger. während der Bewegung der Hand], the gaze is directed fixedly upon the object. 1995 3 Sept. (Real Lives section) 7/4 The mysterious hand movements were reiki, where the therapist uses her body to channel healing energy in the client's. 1843 J. M. Kemble tr. Legend St. Andrew l. 1999 in 58 Soon he attacked the door through hand-touch [OE Andreas han[d]hrine] of the holy ghost. 1905 Sept. 494/1 Love was born of a look—a smile—a hand-touch. 2006 S. McBane 38/3 Finally use a light hand touch on the ribcage. c. attributive, with the sense ‘worn or placed on the hand or hands’. 1656 T. Blount at Manicles Hand-Fetters, or Gives. 1799 M. Park xxiv. 320 In the evening, their irons were examined, and their hand fetters put on. 1878 13 July 443/1 How could she free herself from her hand fetters? 1905 7 May 6/3 The decree of the court provides that the handles of the wheelbarrow be smithed to the hand fetters of these criminal women. 1995 R. R. French xxiv. 323 Convicted criminals might be sentenced to wear iron foot and hand fetters. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. xxxv. 22 Honging ringis & eeryngis & hondryngis [a1425 L.V. ryngis; L. annulos]. 1540 in J. B. Paul (1907) VII. 400 Ane litill hand ring. 1890 J. Kennedy x. 222 Such a hand ring, sign and seal of office and lordship, Pharaoh gave to Joseph. 1991 16 Mar. 645/1 I request that all hand rings and bracelets are removed. 1789 July 362/2 Two tawdry worked hand ruffles pinned in the front of his shirt. 1845 G. P. R. James I. ii. 20 His collar and hand-ruffles were of lace. 1911 19 Sept. Long sleeves gathered over the arms or in the shape of loose bishop puffs ending in a long hand ruffle. 2000 R. S. Rudder & G. Arjona tr. C. Peri Rossi 71 Under the handruffle of her blouse I glimpse a delicate leather and bronze bracelet. 1549 Bp. J. Hooper Declar. 10 Commandm. xi, in (1843) 405 A manacle or hand-shackle to keep them from doing of ill. 1699 A. Boyer at Shack-bolt, or Shackle A Hand-shackle, Menotes, ou Manicles. 1865 H. A. Stern Let. 13 July in C. T. Beke (1867) 347 There is a report that we are to be released from these abominable hand-shackles. 1907 Dec. 234 Wristlets for twisting round a man's wrists and light hand shackles should be at hand. 2009 W. W. Johnstone vi. 86 Ben reached under the seat and threw down two pair of hand shackles. d. 1726 G. Shelvocke i. 16 A little hand nest of drawers. 1797 XV. 687/2 Take it out of the copper with a small hand-kettle for that purpose. 1837 W. H. De Merle II. xiii. 75 The tailor held a hand looking-glass to their faces. 1862 11 Jan. 51/1 With a hand-eye-glass disposed across the nose. 1877 G. Fraser 229 Jamie's quarters were in the loft, to which a hand ladder led. 1907 Dec. 217/1 The lead matte is tapped from the forehearth into a hand pot. 1916 A. Bennett xv. 138 She came out of the shop with a gold hand-sack which had cost twelve hundred francs. 2003 D. Alderson & M. Pardy iii. 33/2 A hand barometer provides useful information on trends in changing air pressure. (b) 1798 J. Ebers II. 34/1 A Hand-Anvil. 1891 Nov. 391 I have thought that a useful addition might be added to farriers' tools by a small hand-anvil, such as is used by the ‘nalbands’ in India. 2000 G. R. Olstad 56 The farmers had to pound out any nicks in their plow shares with a hand anvil and hammer. 1837 19 Aug. A hand baggage cart. 1902 27 Feb. 3/3 The Boer delegates have only brought with them hand-baggage. 2000 (Rio Tinto) No. 53. 20/2 She puts their hand baggage through the electronic security check and then bustles out onto the tarmac to wave in the flight from Denver. 1877 20 Oct. 4/4 The negative taken on this material in a hand camera on a tripod..may be sent home by the tourist by post. 1910 Sept. 588/1 Hand-cameras are made in a thousand patterns. 2011 E. H. Yekani 90 The easy to use Kodak hand camera only found wide distribution after World War I. 1829 I. ix. 64 Mrs. Belmore rose, and lighting a small hand candle, wished the gentlemen good night. 1901 F. Kingsland xxxvi. 512 At about half after ten or eleven, ladies go to bed..the men lighting their hand candles for them. 2007 K. J. Schori 154 You could get out little hand candles, like the ones we often use at the Easter vigil, and bless those. 1671 Acct. in E. Boswell (1932) 251 For a hand Candlestick xviijd. 1682 No. 1706/8 One large Candlestick and Socket, one hand Candlestick, Snuff-pan, and Snuffers. 1872 29 Jan. 276/1 An antique silver hand candlestick. 2004 H. M. Clifford vii. 124 The most recent piece of secular plate was a hand candlestick from Balliol. 1848 B. Webb iv. 141 Upon the altar stood..a hand-cross botonnée. 1892 A. Heales 31 A king is holding up a similar hand-cross. 2007 G. Woolfenden in K. Parry xvi. 321 The antimension, a consecrated cloth.., the Gospel book placed on top of it, a hand cross, and cloths for wiping the mouths of the communicants. 1685 R. Baxter Matt. xxv. 2 Many Virgins used to go to the Brides House, and thence with hand Lamps to go, and attend her to the Wedding. 1777 W. Hutchinson 153 These hand lamps and reflectors were contrived to make night signals by lights. 1834 T. Carlyle i. x. 24/2 Thou..wilt walk through thy world by the sunshine of what thou callest Truth, or even by the Hand-lamp of what I call Attorney Logic. 1994 M. J. Friedman & K. Ryan 48 In a matter of moments, the engineers were slithering through the tunnel, their handlamps flashing back and forth as they moved. 1720 40 The Deponent went into his House, and got out his Hand-lantern, with a Candle in it. 1874 13 Aug. 141/3 The majority of hand lanterns or lamps now in use are very faulty. 1996 (Nexis) 2 Apr. They got a free car inspection, a sun-visor warning about the problem, a video, a hand lantern and a road atlas. 1814 Jan. 494 Swedish and English Hand Lexicon. 8vo. boards. 1862 G. P. Marsh (new ed.) iii. 49 In a hand-lexicon of any modern tongue. 1946 5 161/2 Fischer..had a real hand lexicon or school dictionary partly in print. 1627 W. Duncomb tr. V. d'Audiguier i. 21 Alcidons friends..caused him to be laid vpon a hand-litter, and carried vnto Fountaine Bleau [Fr. le firent emporter sur vne littiere abras à Fontaine-bleau]. 1722 P. Aubin tr. L.-G. Gillot de Beacour I. i. 21 Charny..sent some of his Servants..to fetch a Hand-Litter. 1830 T. C. Grattan III. i. 39 Madame Marguerite..was already placed on a hand-litter, procured for the occasion. 1922 Nov. 782 Transportation to battalion aid station by means of hand litter. 2006 (Nexis) 7 Feb. 9 The volunteers would carry the hand litter via train to the patient's home, retrieve the patient, get back on the train, [etc.]. 1891 31 Oct. 722/2 The apparatus..contains a hand microphone. 1968 20 June 58/1 For long I have been puzzled about the use of hand microphones. 2004 8 May (Weekend Suppl.) 30 Have your status as the life and soul of the saloon bar formalised with a little stage and a hand microphone. 1911 July 254 When the handmike is held in the hand, the receiver being at the ear, the transmitter is just the proper distance from the lips. 1968 3 Jan. 29/1 He does know precisely what he's about when he clutches a handmike and sings. 2001 11 Nov. (Seven Days section) 7/1 As though some deity were vox-popping us with a hand mike on the high street of life. 1809 T. Hope 30 The small oval hand mirrors of metal, the indispensable insignia of courtesans. 1919 3 Aug. 7/4 Contrary to its undeserved reputation as a symbol of vanity—the hand-mirror is, instead, an instrument of humility. 2006 8 June 23/2 After the cut, don't forget to demand a slow swivel with a hand mirror so you can check out your dashingness from every angle. 1600 J. Taverner 23 [Troughts] may not be handled with hands, but in a hand-net very charily. 1775 J. Adair 404 There is a favourite method among them of fishing with hand-nets. 1856 E. K. Kane II. xxiv. 243 Birds..caught in their little hand-nets. 1913 T. Bainbrigge Fletcher (Dept. Agric., Madras) 2 Grasshoppers may also be caught in a hand-net made of a bag of thin cloth attached to a piece of stout cane or bent stick lashed to a handle. 2001 G. C. McGavin 280 Aerial or hand nets are lightweight nets designed for catching flying insects. eOE tr. Bede (Tanner) ii. viii. 122 Hæfde he & wæg mid hine twiecge handseax geættred. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) 3227 Wapnen he ladde,..æt his sadele an æx, and æt þe oðer hælue an hond-sæx. 1291 in B. Sundby (1963) 32 (MED) Honsax. 1593 in D. Yaxley (2003) 97 1 plate for lights & 1 handscrene. 1672 in G. F. Dow (1917) II. 266 A hand screene, 1s. 1830 M. R. Mitford IV. 131 Painted shells and roses..on card-racks and hand-screens. 2002 H. Alexander Gloss. 36 Hand screen, a rigid fan, usually square or circular in shape, mounted on a handle. 1483 in J. P. Collier (1844) 228 A payre of hand-trayes. 1853 Oct. 273/2 Patience had always been accustomed to the good old fashion..of passing round refreshments on a little hand-tray. 1995 J. Crace 270 She would have written a note for Fidia and called a maid to deliver it on a hand tray. 1535 Num. xxxv. C Yf he smyte him wt an handweapon of wodd. 1655 T. Ady 132 Who hath smitten him with an instrument of Iron, or any material instrument, or hand-weapon. 1769 W. B. Monkhouse in J. Cook (1955) I. 567 A short hand weapon which was fastned by a string round the wrist, was about 18 inches long, had a rounded handle and thence formed into a flat elliptic shape. 1900 Nov. 161/1 Infantry, a body of soldiers serving on foot who learn the art of handling hand-weapons. 2000 A. Reynolds xxvi. 367 There were..exemplars of in excess of four million hand weapons, spanning twelve centuries of gunsmithery. e. attributive, with the sense ‘managed or worked with the hand or hands’, or ‘driven or operated by manual power, as distinguished from that of an animal or a machine’. a1450 ( tr. Vegetius (Douce) f. 40 (MED) Þanne moot þe greet armure..wiþ swerd and hond battes of leed fyȝte hond at hond. 1781 (Royal Soc.) 71 181 (note) Beaten level..with their feet and a kind of hand-bat or beetle. 1822 W. Scott I. v. 117 We can keep their steel in order with good handbats. 2005 T. Collins in T. Collins et al. 42/2 The battledore..was a small hand bat. 1588 in J. M. Bestall & D. V. Fowkes (1977) 240 1 pear hand bellowes..one kimnell 4 litle lomes. 1665 R. Hooke 23 Blowing now and then the Coles with hand-Bellows. 1892 July 117/1 By simply manipulating the hand bellows, the flow of the gas and the degree of heat can be regulated. 2006 July 82/1 They'd help pump the fire with the hand-bellows. 1809 C. G. Küttner & W. Nicholson II. 261/1 A whisk, a small hand besom or brush. 2006 C. Kinmonth ii. 45/2 A small hand besom, often made from bound heather, leans against the doorway. 1626–7 (London Metropolitan Archives: P69/BEN2/B/012/MS01568) ii. 533 Pd. for a hand brushe for the pewes 00[li.]..00[s.]..06[d.]. 1747 H. Glasse xvii. 150 Let them be scrubed clean with a Hand-Brush and Sand, and Fuller's Earth. 1897 Jan. 53/1 With the pneumatic painting machine, one man does the work of 10 using hand brushes. 1993 (new ed.) xi. 497/3 You can use a handbrush with steel-wire ‘bristles’ to remove flaking paint and particles of rust from metalwork before repainting it. 1786 W. Winlaw 5/1 After combing the sheaves with the hand comb, cut the ears off with a common knife. 1882 II. i. 685/2 The slivers are made by hand-combs. 2007 J. M. McCuin v. 84 You can make your own top for spinning by using hand combs. 1823 9 Aug. 2/3 He appears to imagine that the Tread-wheel, might operate as a severe punishment for offenses of a more aggravated nature, and the hand-crank, or winch machinery for those of minor atrocity. 1918 25 Apr. 33/2 When it becomes necessary to turn over the engine.., unfasten the round plate in front of the starter unit and insert the hand crank supplied. 2005 (Nexis) 4 June 20 The SideWinder..uses a hand crank to charge up, sells for $25 and includes a built-in flashlight. ?1660 (single sheet) Hand-crow Leavers. 1710 No. 4712/4 Several Persons..did attempt to murther..Mr. Stone..wounding him with a Hand-Crow. 1801 4 55 Hammered shot in the buckets, crows and hand-crows, leavers at the guns. 2005 B. Little (2007) xvii. 174 With an iron handcrow, he attacked three sleeping members of the French prize crew. 1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes xix. 171v Divers instruments, as Flutes, Tabers, Psalteries, Recorders, hand-Drums and Bells. 1864 J. A. Grant viii. 144 A band of hand-drums is near the sultan's hut, giving lighter dance-music for the amusement of the boys and girls. 2004 (National ed.) 13 July b6/4 Percussionists on hand drums like tama and djembe added flickering cross-rhythms. 1768 R. Dossie I. iii. iii. 86 They [sc. the mechanical flails] are prevented from bruising the corn more than would happen from the most expert use of the hand-flail. 1869 28 389 Did you ever thrash your grain crop with the old hand flail? 2011 E. Wohl in S. Campbell ii. 59 They beat the harvested stalks of grain with hand flails. 1773 6 Mar. (advt.) The comparative Advantages between the Gun-Harpoon lately introduced, and the Hand-Harpoon. 1820 W. Scoresby II. 233 The hand-harpoon is placed upon the nick or rest with its stock. 2002 (Nexis) 28 Oct. 8 The writer Gavin Maxwell used to hunt basking sharks by hand harpoon off the west coast of Scotland. 1432 Acct. Rolls Witham, Essex in at Scald-panne i scalydpanne, i bredknyf, i handhook. 1655 in G. F. Dow (1916) I. 216 A handhooke, 3 rings & an old trowell. 1765 T. H. Croker et al. II Hand-Hook, an instrument used by smiths to twist square iron. 1994 218/2 A punch hook is quicker to manipulate than a hand hook because it automatically feeds the yarn through the backing. 1794 J. Christie 11 A capital hand lathe machine. 1889 4 Dec. 211/3 The ‘card room’..had a vise bench along one entire side of it and hand lathes for trimming iron on the opposite side. 2003 N. Sobania 96 Small cylindrical lidded boxes..were turned on hand lathes. 1766 Apr. 175 From thence [sc. a trundle] a hand-lever reaches to the workman. 1869 12 By holding the handles parallel to the hand levers the guide will proceed in a straight line. 1993 18 Jan. 94/2 For two weeks, I've been sitting on the metal seat of the rake and lifting its tines at each windrow with a hand lever. 1765 R. Jones iii. 99 (heading) Of a hand machine used for boring of rockets instead of a lathe. 1873 Mar. 131/1 A most useful..hand-machine..at the low price of 39 s. 1927 T. Woodhouse 81 Practically coincident with the hand knitting of jumpers and the like came the hand-machine knitting. 2006 F. Dikötter v. 118 The availability of relatively cheap hand-machines..fuelled the notorious sweatshops of Shanghai. 1856 7 Apr. 1/3 Hand Mangles bought and sold. 1904 Apr. 123 The Icelandic hand-mangle is somewhat similar to its Norwegian cousin. 2005 B. Lockett v. 66 There was still use for the fantastic old hand mangle which she lovingly operated. 1703 tr. May 184 Two hundred Hand-Mortars, with Ammunition tor Thirty Discharges a Day for the Great Guns. 1866 Sept. 223 Several other examples of the hand-mortar will be found in the Tower and Woolwich museums. 2006 C. J. Nolan 194 The stubby hand mortar remained a standard weapon in several European armies. 1851 11 Oct. 466/3 A hand-piercer is introduced from the opposite side.., in order to smooth the edges of the holes. 1923 Lines of characters may be composed by a hand piercer. 1651 C. Dymock 4 Hand-Pumps which make but small riddance. 1775 S. Graves Let. 8 Jan. in A. J. Wahll (2003) 252 The Somerset was so leaky at Sea that two hand pumps were continually at Work. 1895 16 Mar. 167/1 The whistle is blown by a hand pump. 2008 E. Hill xiii. 114 Electric pumps are very noisy, so you may prefer expressing with a hand pump at work. 1929 31 July 3/3 ‘Hand puppets’ of the Punch and Judy type. 1957 XIV. 906/1 Hand puppets can be of wood, plaster,..or stuffed cloth. 2005 (Nexis) 29 July s3 When you watch the Muppets, you never think of Kermit just being a hand puppet. OE Recipe (Wellcome 75.46) in (1890) 84 326 Nime þonne clænne lengtenbere & grinde on handcwyrna. OE Ælfric Old Test. Summary: Judges (Laud) xvi. 21 in S. J. Crawford (1922) 413 Hi..heton hine grindan æt hira handcwyrne [L. molere fecerunt]. 1597 A. Hartwell tr. D. Lopes ii. i. 110 When it is grinded with Hand-Quernes..it yeeldeth a very white meale. 1707 E. Lhuyd x. 430/2 Gaımhean, a skin used under the hand quern to receive the meal. 1878 W. E. H. Lecky II. v. 26 The only mills for grinding corn were hand-querns, turned by a woman's hand. 1990 70 30 Current studies of hand querns..appear to demonstrate differences in the form of beehive querns. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert f. xvi A man or woman folowyng the mower with a hande rake halfe a yarde longe with .vii. or .viii. teth. 1779 Sept. 276 Raking the ground with hand-rakes. 2006 D. G. Schwartz viii. 163 There, they sat in comfortable chairs and, using small hand-rakes, wagered chips valued from one to two hundred pounds. 1784 1 236 Barley reaping with the Hainauk hand-scythe and hook. 1881 P. B. Du Chaillu II. 256 The women were up and busy sharpening the hand-scythes. 1990 Jan. 7/1 Using hand-scythes and rakes, they cut and collected the Tor-grass..and burnt all the raked material. 1855 3 Nov. 62/1 Robinson's Hand Sewing Machines, with Roper's Improvements. 1928 G. Whiting 28 A small hand-cranked table wheel, set on a wooden plinth or platform, the whole resembling a small spinning-wheel to be turned like a hand sewing-machine. 2009 F. H. B. Taylor 99 Cattle buyers would come through occasionally.., trading some small ware like a kettle or cheap hand sewing machine for a cow. 1807 Mar. 197 He cuts them [sc. iron plates] circularly one at a time, with the large hand-shears. 1876 H. R. F. Bourne II. xi. 193 The coin being cut with hand-shears, and stamped with hand-hammers. 2011 J. Hobson ii. 56/1 No hand shears here, due to the scale of the yew. 1746 T. Walker Diary 15 Dec. in (1889) IX. 141 Went to mill with a hand sled. 1877 92 Provided with a handsled, the boy would first roll on to it the back log. 1993 Feb. 17/1 He and Roberts had crossed the Cobequid Mountains on foot hauling a hand sled. 1737 tr. C. de Bruyn I. 48/2 I had got a hand-sledge made.., and I took this opportunity to divert a young Lady upon the ice with it. 1848 R. M. Ballantyne iii. 59 The hand-sledge is a thin flat slip or plank of wood... Indians invariably use it while visiting their traps, for the purpose of dragging home the animals or game they may have caught. 2009 J. A. Coyne iv. 107 The party physically dragged these heavy rocks on hand sledges. 1820 J. Strachan 122 We might..make our way to the Pole; going by rivers as far as we possibly could, and then with hand-sleighs dragging our canoes. 1919 23 Apr. 292/1 He left Celesta early one morning on a small handsleigh, with a couple of blankets. 2006 K. Mather iv. 154 Lee and Copeland constructed a hand sleigh on which to carry their few belongings. 1667 N. Fairfax Let. 5 Dec. in H. Oldenburg (1967) IV. 15 Bushes &c ar routed up by an hand tool. 1742 W. Ellis June 16 As the Prong Hand-hough is only a Hand-tool, this [sc. the Prong-spade] is for both Foot and Hand. 1877 1 172/2 A medal [will be given] for the best piece of turned or shaved pottery ornamented by the runner or other hand tool. 1953 6 Mar. 1/4 County fire-fighters and volunteers were attempting to control the blaze by cutting trails with caterpillar tractors and handtools. 2006 Apr. 111/1 A series of pine logs pinned together trough-like and hollowed out with hand tools. 1793 T. Cogan I. xiii. 145 They are laid at full length upon a bed, placed in a hand-waggon. 1871 G. MacDonald xxx. 229 A sort of hand-wagon, or lurry on low wheels, was in use for moving the large stones employed. 2007 D. Whitlock xi. 96 A tinker's hand wagon stood this side of the big tree. 1704 536/1 This Mass, or Mixture is afterwards wash'd at the Lavadero, or Washing-place, with Hand-wheels. 1823 R. Guest 71 These rolls, called cardings, were drawn out into rovings on the hand wheel. 1931 9 Jan. 62/3 The roll adjusting gear is operated by a single handwheel, through an arrangement of steel bevel and spur gears. 2004 (Axminster Power Tool Centre Ltd.) i. 17/2 The machine has side-to-side movement and front-to-back travel on two handwheels conveniently positioned at the front. C2. Objective. 1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius 196/2 Manicæ..manicls, or handbinders. 1999 P. David 183 The handbinders were simply a formality. 1835 E. Howard in Apr. 427 I brought up to her the penitent hand-presser. 2008 C. Francis v. 149 The father was in public relations, a smooth hand-presser. a1854 Ld. Cockburn (1856) iii. 165 I attended the writing-school of William Swanson, the great hand-spoiler of the time. 1819 R. Morrison I. 429/3 A similar vessel, with basket work round it, is in Canton, called Show heun..hand-warmer. 1932 Apr. 31/2 When it is filled and the asbestos wick lit, the hand warmer will glow with a mild heat for twenty-four hours. 2006 Dec. 10/1 A whole host of presents are available, from diaries to dog collars, cartridge belts to Christmas cards and hampers to handwarmers. 1742 F. Peck 76 The condemned person, naked and hand-tied. 1782 T. Dalton Let. 19 July in (2006) XIII. 186 He was..part of the time handshackled. 1837 T. Carlyle III. i. i. 8 A poor Legislative,..had let itself be hand-gyved. 1881 1 July 8/5 Look at the disgrace of being taken down handshackled. 1886 R. F. Burton tr. (1894) IX. xiii. 274 There entered a man..and behold, he was also handlopped. 2010 (Nexis) 14 Dec. 16 I think he was hand-shackled during his time with the Sea Eagles. C4. Parasynthetic and similative. 1640 J. Parkinson 894 The lesser sort [of French Dropwort] hath a thicke handhigh stalke. 1890 O. Crawfurd 147 The wall running by the garden paths, hand-high. 2003 J. S. Pickard 37 This is the enchanted forest. It is only hand-high. 1759 P. Miller (ed. 7) at Ficus Fig Tree with Hand-shaped leaves. 1897 16 Oct. 18175/1 We reproduce herewith..a figure of a vegetable curiosity in the form of a hand-shaped carrot. 2011 (Nexis) 25 Dec. f3 The Slam-O-Matic, a large plastic gadget that sat in the middle of the table and had four hand-shaped levers on it. 1860 6 Oct. 420/2 As small..as the hand-sized cloud in the distant horizon. 1978 126 242/1 The initial idea may be contained in a hand-sized maquette. 2003 B. Bryson (2004) xxix. 545 In older textbooks, Oldowan tools are usually shown as blunt, rounded, hand-sized stones. C5. OE (2008) 322 Guðbyrne scan heard hondlocen; hringiren scir song in searwum. OE (2008) 1937 Nænig þæt dorste deor geneþan..þæt hire an dæges eagum starede, ac him wælbende weotode tealde handgewriþene. 1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais iii. xxvi. 215/1 Hand-filling C[od]. ?1761 W. Cheape 4 From this Machine itself, and the Flax is has scutched, it will appear, it has every Advantage..over..Hand-scutching. 1789 C. O'Brien I. sig. C7v Painted between the work where handtooled, and round the sides. 1817 Let. 3 July in App. 36 That [flax] which is hand-scutched is tolerable, although far from being so perfectly cleaned as what comes from Holland. 1888 10 Mar. 1/5 The Easter cards and art prints this year are particularly good in design and color. The hand decorating was never better. 1899 XI. 456 These rivets are to be hand-driven, but the required number will be obtained as though for machine-driven rivets. 1918 IV. 236/1 Stamping was introduced to overcome the difficulty in hand tooling the cotton cloth. 1927 June 134/2 The three bearings, which were hand forged and turned down on the lathe. 1937 5 July 14/6 The messages were coming from a hand-cranked generator. 1946 16 Oct. 8/2 An estimated 90 per cent of the sugar beet crop is hand-harvested in the middle west. 1953 R. S. Smith 58/2 All their supplies would have to be hand-carried forward from Dépapré. 1979 Aug. 9/1 (advt.) Two bands of precious 22 kt. gold will be hand-applied to each bell. 1999 J. Toohey (2000) ii. 46 A craftsman who hand-carved the pulley systems for hoisting sails. 2011 4 Apr. 22/2 Assistants painstakingly hand-laced the models into skin-tight suede jeans. b. 1921 Nov. 305/2 It [sc. the telegram]..was received here at noon today—evidently hand-delivered. 1966 H. Roth (1967) ii. 25 The safest way to get the stuff there was to hand deliver it. 2007 V. Jewiss tr. R. Saviano 138 To avoid leaving clues on people's bank records, the money is almost always hand-delivered. 1880 XI. 404 The joints should be carefully hand-filled with fine screened sand. 1920 Nov. 599/1 The furnace was hand-filled, coke being for the most part unloaded from box cars. 2006 C. Nyerges 95 Fill the tank with water from a garden hose or hand fill it with a funnel. c1575 Chalm. Air c. 25 in J. Balfour (1754) 585 Gif ony Fleshour..slayis or hand-killis ony beif or flesh with his awin handis. 1865 S. Robinson ii. 226 I have tried a great many remedies, and have never found anything so good as careful watering, and hand killing the bugs. 2002 Re: Furry Family Size in alt.lifestyle.furry (Usenet newsgroup) 10 Nov. That took some adaptation since they weren't built to hand kill animals. 1765 M. Johnson (ed. 3) 163 The Stuff to be cleaned..being laid on a Table, should be hand-rubbed all over. 1859 F. A. Griffiths (1862) 224 Hand-rub and bandage legs. 1994 J. Sherman v. 49 One [tradesman] is handrubbing a surface with polish. 1815 Mar. 213/2 It was sent to Dumbarton, where it was hand-sewed. 1919 J. M. Barrie i. 21 You hand-sew them and stretch them over a tin cylinder. 2003 Dec. 139/1 Hand-sew the gap shut neatly with matching thread. 1862 May 114/1 The garment..was faultlessly made, and neatly hand-stitched in ‘band, gusset and seam’. 1943 Nov. 111/2 Pull the band down over this filling and hand stitch beneath the roll. 2001 K. Guerrier 124/3 Circular Japanese-inspired ‘Marumon’ blocks are..hand stitched to the peach-coloured background. 1900 1 7/1 The fact of these carpets being hand-tufted has its charm in that stamp of individuality and irregularity which no power-loom can give. 1906 5 June 4/5 Killybegs carpets, which are hand-tufted by the peasants. 2007 (Nexis) 17 Sept. 30 The Allure collection is hand tufted of a blend of wool and high-sheen art silk in a soft chenille texture. c. 1837 12 Apr. In hand-built shrines no more we meet, But worship in the realms of Life. 1919 Apr. 841/2 The four hand-built Rolls-Royce engines each develop 280 horse-power. 2003 S. Mackay (2004) iii. 24 The people who had..set up home there in hand-built shacks and old railway carriages. 1848 25 Dec. 817/2 A few copies, on superior paper, hand coloured, to Subscribers only. 1916 18 385 A very clear photograph..which appears to be more accurate than the hand-colored casts. 2005 R. Douglas 5 She looked at the garish, hand-coloured photo of him. 1866 8 Mar. 4 Hand-cut files. 1921 Jan. 20/1 (advt.) Tall 3-pint pitcher and 6 stylish bell-shaped tumblers—real hand cut, thin blown clear crystal glass. 2007 May 132 The bedrooms are gorgeous, constructed with hand-cut, local volcanic stone..with traditional bamboo roofs. 1936 27 Mar. 6/4 We discount the political significance of the poll because of the comparatively small number of voters receiving the hand-delivered ballots. 2010 J. D'Anieri x. 281 The increase in speed of communication that occurred with the move from the hand-delivered letter to the telegraph was as dramatic as the increases later provided by the emergence of faxes and the Internet. 1891 9 July 5/2 In the Exhibition.., the industrial work (hand-done) is a distinct feature. 1907 N. Munro xvii. 151 Another hand-done bill upon the counter. 1997 4 Aug. 30/2 Most..students come for retraining after years of hand-done art projects. 1884 Aug. 345/1 Dyed in the skein, in varied tints of the same color, giving it when woven all the effect of Eastern hand-dyed, hand-woven stuffs so much admired. 1950 2 17 Their costumes are made of hand-dyed Batik-patterns in vivid colours. 2001 K. Guerrier 126/1 Machine-pieced ‘Bowtie’ blocks in an octagonal set, many of them hand-dyed fabrics, give this quilt a luminous quality. 1856 3 Aug. 1/5 Several very magnificent hand embroidered double silk skirts. 1920 June 61/1 The hand-embroidered silk crêpe wrapper..would be lovely to slip on after baby's bath. 2008 ‘Sister Souljah’ 85 He..ran his thick, rough, ashy hands over the hand-embroidered designs. 1854 20 Mar. 6/5 (advt.) The first loft in the new building..with hand-finished walls. 1946 15 June 2/1 (advt.) You'll find the Parker ‘51’ with its shaft of hand-finished lucite is sheer beauty. 2009 1 May 32/2 A 100 per cent wool, entirely hand-finished suit in a British or Italian cloth. 1869 Aug. 162 They [sc. boilers] are Hand-fired, and are each 30 feet long. 1963 23 May 7/3 Existing hand-fired plant still in fair condition. 2000 July 13/2 Three-dimensional and enamel fields (consisting of up to 12 different hand-fired layers). 1913 R. Kipling 113 But Tubal fashioned the hand-flung spears. 1989 F. E. Abernethy v. 46 The hand-flung projectile is not enough. 1863 22 May 3/2 Machine-made scissors are..perfectly uniform; the bows are rounder and smoother inside than those of the hand-forged scissors. 1922 July 19/1 The hand-forged spurs are short, with small rowels. 2000 Nov. 82/2 Smart hand-forged steel accessories suit both traditional and modern surrounds. 1865 29 Sept. 197/2 The cost for getting away the coal would be the same for machine as for hand-hewn coal. 1969 3 240 The work of Hagelman and Barnes is born into competition with one of the last of the hand-hewn concordances. 2008 109 609 Workers used hand-hewn railroad ties. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Vivien in 140 Face Hand-hidden, as for utmost grief. 2009 R. Teme ii. 11 The hand-hidden giggles and open sneers. 1843 20 Jan. The sham-knit branch—that is, hose made in imitation of hand-knitted worsted stockings—is very dull indeed. 1952 M. Laski viii. 135 A skirt and a hand-knitted jumper. 2010 25 Feb. 19/1 A kilt made from Harris tweed worn with hand-knitted socks. 1884 4 May 7/3 (advt.) Heavy hand-knotted fringes. 1922 A. F. Kendrick & C. E. C. Tattersall I. i. vii. 73 The factory of the Savonnerie, which has provided a generic name for all French hand-knotted carpets, was founded in 1626. 2006 29 July 37/4 (advt.) Hand knotted woollen & silk Persian & oriental carpets. 1863 4 371 Hand-laboured. 2005 S. H. Donald i. 14 These styles are the focus of the shift from hand-laboured artwork to digitised production. 1840 May 353 Architects and builders cannot but recommend them [sc. machine-made bricks], in preference to all hand-moulded bricks. 1921 Oct. 87/1 Costly hand-molded ceilings should be protected, to be sure. 2001 65 423 The assemblage of ridge tile includes examples with hand-moulded spurs or crests. 1871 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1869 II. 265/1 in (41st Congr., 2nd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 102) XIII Hand-operated arms or levers, which may be thrown into position to be operated. 1936 Nov. 350/1 The Electrotor meter has a hand-operated pump movement. 2002 Aug. 54/1 The still house remains a place of hand-operated valves and idiosyncrasies. 1846 23 Dec. Fine feather and hand-painted Fans. 1938 Jan. 74/2 Lovely Venetian china featuring a hand-painted pastoral scene. 2002 P. Vincent iv. 150 The cloth doll had an exquisite hand-painted face and a dress of faded blue silk. 1828 10 Apr. 1/3 Twenty-four pair of hand-polished steel scissors. 1925 Oct. 44/2 Hand-polished mahogany cabinet. 2007 (Nexis) 14 Dec. 43 A seven-coat, 13-hour, hand-polished finish so deep it seems as though you can dip your fingers into the lustre. 1901 Oct. 566 He must be ready to forsake the old hand-powered methods and adopt machinery. 1986 N. A. M. Rodger (1988) iii. 106 Hales's ventilator was a hand-powered mechanical air pump which forced air down into the hold through tubes. 2004 Jan. 27/1 (caption) This portable hand-powered washing machine spins your clothes clean without using..any electricity. 1859 146 The frames are of fine, hand-rolled brass. 1916 25 Jan. (advt.) 13/5 The rich..taste of ‘Bull’ puts the national spirit of get-up-and-hustle into your hand-rolled cigarette. 1972 16 Nov. (Suppl.) 57/1 Pure silk 36 inch hand-rolled head-scarves. 2008 P. McGrath iii. 32 Often she talked with a hand-rolled cigarette hanging from the corner of her mouth, her eyes squinting against the smoke. 1858 R. S. Surtees xxviii. 113 A good, hot well-washed china dish is a great deal better than a dull, luke-warm, hand-rubbed silver one. 1925 Apr. 39/3 (advt.) A medium gloss enamel that produces the much-desired hand-rubbed effect without any rubbing. 2004 June 29/2 It features a hand-rubbed oil satin finish. 1836 18 Apr. Splendid stock of hand-sewed collars. 1930 Mar. 31/1 The hand-sewed tent, using waxed thread, makes the strongest tent. 2006 14 Sept. 9/3 (advt.) Hand-sewed alligator strap with 18 kt white gold..buckle. 1849 15 Oct. Richly Embroidered (hand-sewn) Dresses. 1914 25 July 26/2 Hand-sewn books are tight and firm, but many machine-sewn books are wobbly. 2006 24 Apr. 66/2 Fanciful stilt-walkers and dancers wearing hand-sewn headdresses. 1808 Dec. 321 Linen yarn both hand-spun, and mill-spun. 1895 15 June 5/3 A piece of hand-spun and hand-woven cloth. 2007 Spring 88/1 She chose the dornick twill because the floats would show off her handspun weft. 1875 18 Aug. (advt.) Hand-stitched handkerchiefs at cost. 1952 17 Nov. 123/2 Studio technicians built replicas of the Mayflower, guaranteed complete and authentic down to the last astrolabe and hand-stitched sail. 2002 B. Mukherjee xii. 196 The sari..was the last word in Calcutta elegance, six yards of the finest silk and most extraordinary hand-stitched embroidery. 1851 18 July 4/5 (advt.) Specimens of hand-tooled book-bindings, designed by the exhibitor, to show his system of ornamenting such work. 1931 25 June p. vii/2 The Swiss hand-tooled bindings are disappointing. 2006 D. Trussoni (2007) viii. 150 Turning her attention to her handbag, she pulled out..a hand-tooled leather wallet. 1888 5 July Cheese-cloth comfortables. To soften a couch or mattress with... Hand-tufted both sides. 1922 J. Joyce iii. 665 Handtufted Axminster Carpet. 2001 Autumn 58/3 An excellent quality medium tension Sealy mattress with open coil springs, high quality foam and hand-tufted felt pads. 1830 30 134/2 Shirtings and printing cloths have also been in demand, as well as low descriptions of hand-woven calicoes. 1925 A. Huxley 2 Nov. (1969) 258 We bought..twelve yards of hand woven material. 2001 Autumn 52/3 Finer details, such as the hand-woven cane seat.., make this superb chair a handsome central or corner piece. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xiv. 58 Ic towurpe þis handworhte [L. manufactum] tempel & æfter þrim dagum ic oðer unhandworht getimbrie. 1881 19 May 686/1 The train..was covered with hand-wrought embroidery. 2006 Apr. 73/3 We saved the hand-wrought nails from our attic floor for reuse. d. a1781 W. Chapple (1785) 47 The Operation of digging up the Turf is term'd Hand-Beating, and is thought to be as hard a Labour as any in which the Husbandman is employed. 1894 27 July 99/3 In those times the cleansing was done by hand-beating with light willow rods, the cotton being placed on a net. 2004 J. Sharrock 9/2 Not only must the candies cook to a specific temperature, but most also require hand beating. 1818 Minutes of Evid. Sel. Comm. Copyright Acts 72 in (H.C. 280.) IX. The hand-colouring of eleven copies of the plates. 1869 31 Dec. 377/2 The prints..were..finished by hand-colouring. 2008 M. Browning 48/1 Hand coloring can bring extra brilliance to an old photograph. 1841 J. James 279 One [machine] was invented by Anderton, which wrought on the principle used by hand-combers. 1954 14 74 An instance of technological unemployment, that of the hand-combers. 2003 J. Hunt iii. 66 The 22,000 skilled hand combers in the industry had..lost their jobs. 1794 2 Mar. (1803) 49 546/1 The Price of Hand-combing is then greatly enhanced. 1894 H. Speight 304 This was in the days of hand-combing and hand-weaving. 2011 D. Robson & C. Ekarius 24/1 Hand combing of fibers can be carried out with a variety of different tools. 1857 D. Livingstone xi. 206 I often presented my friends with iron spoons, and it was curious to observe how the habit of hand-eating prevailed. 2011 N. Dupree & C. Graubart 149/1 Clingstones..are not very pretty for hand eating, but joyously are the first of the season to ripen. 1830 18 Dec. 283/2 But with boilers on the ‘common plan,’ by a sacrifice of coal and hand firing, this catastrophe might be avoided. 1908 Aug. 624/1 Owing to the fact that unscreened British coal is extensively employed in Hamburg hand-firing is more generally adopted. 2002 Nov. 47/3 A hand-held butane torch for hand firing. 1855 ‘P. Paxton’ 147 In the deeper places of such streams must the handfisher seek his prey. 2011 16 May a14/1 He'll give hand-fishers some credit, though... While noodling has a long history in the U.S., only 17 states permit hand fishing. 1724 D. Defoe I. iii. 75 The Knitting-Stocking Engine or Frame,..has destroyed the hand Knitting-Trade for fine Stockings. 1902 20 Dec. 5/2 Another ancient industry is at its last gasp—viz., the hand-knitting of Kilmarnock bonnets. 2001 Oct. 71/1 Hand-knitting is an excellent stress-relieving pastime. 1879 7 Oct. 7/2 Mechanical hand milkers. 1961 J. G. Davis (ed. 2) 740 The War of 1914–18, because of the acute shortage of hand milkers, gave an unexpected impetus to the adoption of machine milking. 2005 53 242 A hand milker..would have milked no more than 10 cows at the same time. 1851 M. M. Milburn v. 77 The hand milking may be altogether substituted. 1915 J. London 26 Jan. (1966) 446 Get Timms' experience with hand-milking labor conditions. 2006 172 225/2 The hand-milking of sheep..is faster..than is possible by machine. 1844 25 338 The strands of oakum, twisted up by hand-rolling on the thigh and knee of the caulker. 1951 7 Sept. The hand-rolling of pretzels. 2005 L. Ewles iv. 61 [The black market] supplies over 70% of the hand-rolling tobacco consumed in the UK. 1814 Dec. 906/2 As much work as eighteen girls could accomplish by hand-sewing. 1946 14 Dec. 868/1 The speed of expert hand-sewing, thirty stitches per minute, is slow and laborious compared with that of machine work. 2011 B. Bara 15 It may be slow going, but hand-sewing can be wonderfully meditative and relaxing. 1647 J. Trapp (Matt. v. 11) There are tongue-smiters, as well as hand-smiters. 1853 17 Dec. 4 The seam is perfectly finished on both sides, is stronger than hand-stitching, and far more regular. 1967 Dec. 9/2 Hand stitching is considered better, and you can spot it by irregular stitches and a knotted end of the thread. 2004 (National ed.) 17 June d8/6 Monogramming..has become faster and easier than old-fashioned hand-stitching, thanks to digital machinery. 1839 17 Aug. The turnips had got so large as to require hand thinning. 1884 E. P. Roe xviii. 142 A profitable crop of peaches can only be grown by careful hand-thinning. 2006 39 119 Physically demanding activities such as hand thinning. 1814 III. 319 The housing, loom-shops, and utensils of hand-weavers. 1915 Oct. 584/2 In making the knot a hand weaver uses five different finger motions. 2007 30 Dec. (New Review) 13/2 (heading) Bora is helping to create livelihoods for cotton farmers and hand-weavers. 1823 I. Holmes x. 198 The price of hand weaving is 2½ cents for shirting calicoes. 1914 Sept. 48/3 Clever handweaving protects the warp, thereby insuring longer life. 2004 Jan. 85 If you find holes around the entire perimeter of the seat, you're in for a weekend of hand weaving. 1691 J. Evelyn (ed. 8) 56 Turning up of the Earth..is to be preferr'd to Hand-weeding, and more expeditious. 1783 1 170 Then gave it a hand-weeding; dunged and ploughed as before. 1853 June 71/3 In broadcast cultivation careful hand-weeding must be resorted to. 1913 J. E. Rogers 307 When the flax plants are two inches high they get a careful hand-weeding. 2006 July 92/1 Encouraging children to get into gardening is rewarding... They can genuinely help improve the plot too—their small fingers are great for hand weeding. C6. 1637 tr. xiii. 61 All this hand-aduen-ture now knitting vp in this manner. the mind > language > a language > [noun] > sign language 1680 G. Dalgarno viii. 73 I have at last fixt upon a Finger or Hand-alphabet according to my mind. 1837 VIII. 283/1 We shall give his hand-alphabet. 1973 48 186/1 The hand alphabet of the deaf. 2008 M. Zurawski 44 Even when there wasn't anything to transcribe into the hand-alphabet he would find his hand repeating the phrase. 1883 W. Morris Let. 21 Aug. in J. W. Mackail (1899) II. xv. 110 Poetry goes with the hand-arts I think. 1887 R. Jefferies 85 Books..bound in the best style of hand-art. 2005 J. H. Newton in P. Messaris & L. Humphreys i. 6 Most people realize the influence an artist's style can have on a work of hand art. 1886 27 Mar. 22/1 Leotard Troupe, Acrobatic Wonders, Somersault Throwers.., Hand Balancers. 1927 30 Aug. 12/6 Masu, the Japanese hand-balancer and juggler. 1996 11 Oct. 12/5 The talented cast of the show includes..handbalancer Erik. 1659 C. Hoole tr. J. A. Comenius lviii. 119 The Guests, being brought in by the Host..wash their Hands out of a Laver..over a Hand-Basin. 1761 Invoice (R. Cary & Co) 31 Mar. in G. Washington (1990) VII. 29 4 White Stone hand basons. 1872 9 Mar. She gave the music-stool a whirl or two, and fluffed down on it like a whirl of soapsuds in a hand basin. 1917 F. Swinnerton vii. 140 She saw a hand-basin with taps for hot and cold water. 1994 (Nexis) 4 July 6 Pedestal handbasins don't provide for storage, so make sure you have room for a cupboard. 2005 A. Coyle vi. 109 Prisoners will keep their own plate and bowl..and will wash them after each meal in the small hand basin in the cell. society > faith > aspects of faith > Bible, Scripture > [noun] the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > scouring, scrubbing, or rubbing > [noun] > implement for scouring or scrubbing > stone a1680 S. Butler (1682) 5 O what a godly thing is the Sign of the Hand Bible! 1798 J. Ebers II. 34/2 Handbibel, die, a portative Bible, a Hand-Bible. 1833 12 Aug. ‘Holy stones and hand bibles’ have done their duty. 1867 J. Dixon II. vii. 114 A beautiful hand Bible was presented to me. 1908 O. Onions 109 That was Ben, and i' the Dolphin, where all they knew o' Bibles was the hand-bibles they holystoned the decks wi'. 1948 E. Partridge et al. 80 Hand Bible, a holy-stone. 1994 (Nexis) 24 Apr. w8 Hand Bibles—small, personal volumes rich in sentimental value. 1951 30 Aug. 17/4 Add baking powder and salt. Sift into bowl. Stir gently to mix. Cut in shortening with hand blender. 1985 (Nexis) 4 Nov. New products from Braun include coffeemakers, food processors and hand blenders. 2004 H. Blumenthal 24 Hand-blenders..can make your life a lot easier. society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > glass and glass-like materials > [adjective] > other types of glass 1885 2/1 The defect of the hand-blown glassware is that the workman must trust entirely to his eye for accuracy of the dimensions. 1928 28 May 7/2 An exhibition of hand-blown and enamelled glass. 2008 1 Aug. 6/5 A range of pretty hand blown coloured droplet vases. a1802 J. Strutt (1808) III. viii. 161 His antagonist was armed with a double-edged glave, and a hand buckler. 1891 26 Feb. 5/7 The appearance of the dagger, as a defensive weapon, was..an alternative to the more clumsy hand buckler. 1999 R. Lane 3 It [sc. the sword] was..usually accompanied by the hand buckler or targate. 1891 June 205 One..must, nevertheless, recognize the claims of the hand-camerists to consideration. 1897 C. M. Hepworth xiii. 96 Subjects which are suitably lighted and otherwise ‘possible’ for the hand camerist may be safely attempted with a cinematographic camera. 1921 June 298 Success in photography of processions is not given to every hand-camerist. society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > small-arm > [noun] > other small arms 1752 tr. V.-C. Châlons I. 436 Muskets were used at this siege [sc. Arras, 1414]; which the historian calls hand cannon [Fr. l'historien les appelle canons à main]. 1869 C. Boutell in tr. J. P. Lacombe Notes 293 The hand-cannon soon gave place to the hand-gun. 2000 Mar. 65/2 The awkward ignition system of hand cannons cried out for improvement which came in the matchlock (early 1400's) mechanism. society > travel > rail travel > rolling stock > [noun] > inspection or maintenance vehicle 1833 Oct. 262/2 The fifteen miles from Hamburg..is ironed, and used with hand-cars. 1894 3 Sept. 5/1 A relief train carrying hand-cars eventually rescued them from their perilous position. 1933 8 26/2 The rhythmic up-and-down motion of workers pumping a handcar. 2006 27 Nov. 173/2 The train's conductor..pursued the hijackers on foot..and then by handcar and a series of three engines. 1562 in J. Raine (1853) 156 Cardstocks, iijs. Stockcards and hande cards, iijs. 1625 Edinb. Test. LIII. f. 114v, in at Hand Ane paire of stoke cairdis and tua pair of hand cairdis. 1756 T. Turner 27 Sept. (1984) (modernized text) 57 Gave Dame Dan a pair of stock and hand cards on the parish account. 1879 (new ed.) IV. 273/1 Carding..was performed by a pair of hand-cards upon the knee. 2011 D. Niemann xv. 237 It would take me months to turn our washed wool into roving using my pair of hand cards. 1745 W. Ellis I. June ii. 14 This Farmer..carried his Wheat-sheaves into his Barn on a Sunday, by Hand-carriage. 1860 C. Dickens Hunted Down iv, in 11 Aug. 422/2 A hand-carriage drawn by a man... I saw within it an old man. 1950 6 May 874/1 It is not unlikely that hand carriage of the organism is, in such circumstances, the chief operative factor. 1998 A. S. Evans & P. S. Brachman (ed. 3) xxv. 515 Hand carriage of microorganisms is recognized as the most important factor in endemic and most epidemic spread of nosocomial infection. 2002 B. Hinsch iii. 74 Some women transported people by pulling hand carriages or poling ferries. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán i. 37 It seemed to mee a Silla de manos, or easie hand-Chair. 1839 23 July Richard Saunders was summoned for having..dragged a hand chair upon the foot pavement. 1913 14 112 One of them [sc. patients]..being carried in a hand chair by the Boy Scouts. 2002 L. Saldaño tr. F. Díaz vii. 17 They sat her upon a hand chair with a seat made from a turtle shell. 1857 19 Dec. 3/5 J. Penfold.., beer retailer and handchairman. 1889 7 Aug. 760/3 Cullen George.., cabdriver and handchairman. 1911 6 Dec. A motor which fails to start after operating the starter will start a hundred per cent easier when hand-cranked. 1980 25 June 13/1 Hand cranking the ice cream used to be a ritual assigned to the children. 1992 (Nexis) 4 July 1 The event..pits teams of individuals and civic organization representatives in fierce competition to hand-crank ice cream. 2010 B. Fairchild 452/2 The next step? Hand-cranking the machine until the ice cream freezes. 1884 H. H. Griffin 105 The Hand-Lever Meteor Roadster..—A very superior description of hand cycle. 1960 26 May 7 (caption) A frequent sight on the streets of Caruthersville is 73-year-old John Frix and his ‘handcycle’... The machine was devised as a means of relieving his sore feet. 2002 6 Aug. 2/6 A paraplegic man has completed the 3,200-mile Around Britain Challenge on a specially designed handcycle. 1786 R. Burns 13 Nought but his han'-daurk, to keep Them right an' tight in thack an' raep. 1839 R. Fraser 16 Oure daylie hand-darg ye see. 1989 A. Aird 422 Hand-dived scallops or baby squat lobsters with home-made mayonnaise. 2007 May (20 UK Foodie Weekends section) 55/2 The shop and restaurant..offers fish caught in local waters, as well as hand-dived shellfish and scallops. 1733 W. Ellis 15 This makes the Fold on this Earth preferable to..light Hand-dressings that are sown early. 1839 C. McIntosh 250 Harrison recommends two summer prunings or hand dressings. 1870 Feb. 99/2 Stones can be easily dressed lower at the eye if required. The work done by this machine is..far superior to hand-dressing. 1936 18 138 In areas which are..comparatively free from tick infestation.., cattle owners will be able to comply with the law by hand-dressing or by dipping at longer intervals. 1990 K. J. Nielson vi. 246 Many drapery, valance, and poufed curtain treatments need special hand dressing to achieve a finished and beautiful effect. 1909 May 432/2 Where large crops are turned out, it is common to see the leaf put through an automatic machine and dried to twelve annas, to be finished off on hand dryers or over chulas. 1914 Mar. 76/1 The electric hand dryer is the last word in sanitary devices for public buildings, and promises to relegate the paper towel to the junk heap. 1950 15 Mar. 2/5 The home shampoo is a more difficult problem during the winter months. Unless one has a hand dryer, hair is likely to stay wet longer. 2002 ‘H. Hill’ xix. 117 There were various discussions as to whether to have hand dryers, paper towels or roll towel in the loos. 2012 C. Church & A. Read 328 The hand dryer should also be easy to use and lightweight. 1841 8 Nov. 247/2 It was a similar condition of the muscles of the finger, as that which was observed in the muscles of the fore-arm in the ‘hand-drop’ of painters. 1913 Dec. 359/1 The muscle weakness results in ‘foot-drop’ and ‘hand-drop’. Lead can be then detected in traces in the blood and urine. 2006 28 340/1 She had some muscle weakness especially affecting the distal arm muscles as exhibited by mild hand drop. 1841 XIX. 493/2 In the superior French ribbons groups and wreaths of flowers are executed with the richness and variety of hand-embroidery. 1914 21 Mar. 7/1 The display consists of hand embroideries and potteries. 2004 P. Albin 15 Some machine embroidery mimics hand embroidery, but when you look closely, you can see it was done by machine. 1679 Order 22 Aug. in (Rep. Boston Rec. Commissioners, Doc. 50) (1881) 132 That there be lodged in each quarter 4 Barrels of powder & 6 hand engins & 2 Crookes in each ward. 1716 G. Jacob 87 Church-wardens of every Parish..are..to have and keep in Repair a large Engine, Hand Engine and Leather-Pipe and Socket. 1881 Jan. 205/2 A hand engine known as the ‘Hay-wagon’. 1990 (Nexis) 15 Sept. 1 d Hand engines were still kept in use, but gradually the city was able to purchase more of the efficient steam engines, and the foundations were laid for the modern city fire department. 1562 W. Turner Bk. Natures Bathes Eng. f. 6v, in It [sc. the Pepper bathe] is good for the leping goute, that runneth from one ioynte to another, and for the handeuell and fote euell. the world > movement > bodily movement > [adjective] > voluntary or involuntary > coordination between hand and eye 1916 C. S. Bailey 199 As the child grows expert in these larger stringing plays, he may be given objects for stringing which involve a finer degree of hand eye co-ordination. 1977 P. Leach iii. 167 The child who is good with a ball is one whose hand–eye coordination is well developed. 2007 C. Everton xxvi. 346 When his mind is clear, his sublime hand-eye co-ordination takes over. society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [noun] > single combat or duel 1587 J. Hooker Chron. Ireland 168/1 in (new ed.) II Wherevpon they fell at hand-fight. a1668 J. Alleine (1672) iv. 86 While we keep aloof in generals, there is little fruit to be expected. It is the hand fight, that does execution. 1850 G. Grote VII. ii. lx. 448 A strenuous hand-fight then commenced. 2000 N. Z. Davis ii. 25 Easter eggs had been used for competitive games in medieval France, as in rolling contests and hand fights. 1760 XIV. xvi. 92 The Manati, or hand-fish, scribed. The next rare fish of the Africans..that of the Manati, as the Spaniards call it, on account of its having seemingly two hands. 1832 (ed. 27) 58 The Hand Fish (Chironectes) have a compressed head and body, a smaller mouth, and the first dorsal fin placed between the eyes. 1902 II. 372/1 The pectoral fins [are] supported, like short feet, upon peduncles, by means of which they are enabled to creep over mud and sand.., and also to take short leaps like a frog, whence the name frog-fish, as well as hand-fish. 2007 G. S. Helfman ii. ii. 45/2 The spotted handfish, Brachionichthys hirsutus, ironically also known as the common handfish, belongs to an endemic and unusual Australian family. 1747 24 Nov. It's for Fives-playing only, either with Racquets, Boards, or at Hand-Fives. 1873 Feb. 157/1 It may indeed be said that the weather is too cold for most fellows to care to play hand-fives. 1956 19 Oct. 8/7 The court is larger than a hand fives court. 1814 2 212 The memoir entitled a botanical description of the Cheiranthodendron, or hand-flower tree of Toluca near Mexico, is a performance on a very rare and curious subject. 1835 R. M. Bird II. iv. 211 The handflower, which our gods planted among the hills. 1923 20 Aug. 7/5 The natives call it the handflower-tree. 2001 E. McClintock 64 The hand-flower tree was known to the Aztecs, who venerated it for its flowers. 1783 tr. C. Linnaeus (1785) I. 164 Leaves hand-footed five-parted, peduncles one-flower'd. 1828 Oct. 302 Might not their form and use be better designated by the term Manupeda, Manupeds, foot-handed or hand-footed beasts. 1893 13 20 The hand-footed Labyrinthodon with whose footprints we are so familiar. 1949 A. L. Zagat xvi. 127 They had progressed immeasurably farther beyond us than we had beyond our furred and hand-footed simian ancestors. 2007 K. McCracken 74 War-Boseth, the hand-footed Indian hunter. 1822 C. Wells 19 There is one thing greater than revenge, and hand-friend to our cause—it is mercy. 1807 P. Egan (ed. 2) 18 Unfortunately in passing through a hand-gate..Mr. Day's horse's shoulder came in full contact with the gate-post. 1851 Mar. 315 In the excitement of the moment he leapt the hand-gate leading out of the shrubberies into the park. 1976 10 Dec. 10/4 To..make sure that the county council requirements for school playing fields..—provision of a handgate and litter bins, for instance—are fulfilled. 2000 No. 18. 9 Modifying the fence line to exclude stock often removed the need for a gate and where this wasn't possible we used self-closing handgates instead of stiles. society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > steam engine > [noun] > parts of > other parts 1805 Nov. 174 There are no levers employed for opening the valves, and there is no hand gear. 1898 10 565 Reversing is effected by means of double-cylinder steam engines, with gear of the all-round type, hand-gear also being available. 1907 Oct. 325/1 As no electric power was obtainable..it was decided to install an oil engine with supplementary handgear. 1975 Nov. 17/1 The gear is similar to the foot and hand gear used for full contact karate protection. 2000 W. H. Flayhart ix. 177 The valve gear was the link type, controlled by a steam cylinder and also by auxiliary hand gears. 2010 J. Gardiner vi. 62 Those who worked in the trade of wild parrot smuggling routinely wore protective handgear. 1988 R. Mabey et al. iii. 145/2 (heading) Nourishing hand gel. 1997 5 Apr. c1/1 Arm yourself against coughing colleagues and sniffling preschoolers with instant antibacterial hand gel. 2020 (Nexis) 16 Apr. 46 I probably shouldn't be thinking about how to cash in on the coronavirus situation, but sellers of hand gel and masks and so on are making a pretty penny. 1834 R. Allan p. xvi Of this there are two kinds; the common or hand goniometer invented by Carangeau, and the reflective goniometer proposed by Dr Wollaston. 1882 5 56 I found..a very acute pyramid..the angles of which I was not able to measure by the hand-goniometer on account of the smallness of their planes. 1952 F. Twyman (ed. 2) ii. 27 Fig. 5 a shows a hand goniometer which is useful for setting to angles in the measurement of prisms of acute angle when they are truncated. 1988 13B 151/1 Measurement of the mallet deformity was with a standard hand goniometer. 2010 14 8 Measuring the active range of motion of all..joints of the involved hand with a hand goniometer. 1598 J. Mosan tr. C. Wirsung iv. v. 531 For the second sort of the Gowt will we describe the Chiragra, the which wee do properlie call the hand gowt. 1616 B. Holyday tr. Persius v. sig. D3 When the knottie hand-gout has once broke Their ioynts. 1782 J. Aitken I. 476 (heading) Hand-gout. 1851 tr. G. H. G. Jahr p. xxix Tumour; arthritis; hand-gout; pains of the limbs; affections of bones; [etc.]. the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [noun] > opening which may be passed through > large enough for passage of the hand the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > extremities > hand > [noun] > palm of 1767 J. Bate 43/1 Hand-holes; the insides or hollows of the hands. 1793 (ed. 2) 218 A butler's tray.., two hand holes [1788 handle holes] in ditto. a1877 E. H. Knight II. 1055/1 Hand-hole, a small hole at or near the bottom of a boiler, for the insertion of the hand in cleaning, etc. It is closed by a hand-hole plate. 1967 (B.S.I.) 24 Handhole, a small opening with an access cover to provide for the inspection, repair or cleaning of the inside of a vessel or pipe. 2001 R. L. Vandagriff ii. 30 Be prepared for hot water in drums and headers when removing manhole plates and handhole covers. society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > wind instrument > horn > [noun] > other horns 1871 Feb. 28 The French horn, the next in position on the musical scale, was next adverted to.., and its varieties of ‘hand horn’ and ‘valve horn’ compared. 1961 A. C. Baines xii. 300 The deficiencies of the hand horn were to be made good in Germany about 1815 by the invention of the valve. 2006 59 10/2 The handhorn was taught in the Conservatoire into the twentieth century. 1957 Sept. 123/1 Rinse well in hand-hot water. 1999 S. Owen (rev. ed.) 251 Grate the [coconut] flesh, pour hot water over it and leave it to cool till it is hand-hot. 2012 (Nexis) 20 Oct. h2 Use the same technique as above but reduce the Borax quantity to 5 grams mixed into 500 millilitres of hand-hot water. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > mountaineering or climbing > [noun] > actions 1937 5 138/1 A crack in the right-hand corner of the rectangular grass platform was climbed with the aid of small holds and hand jamming. 1957 R. W. Clark & E. C. Pyatt xvi. 237 A new method of hand-jamming, enabling a hold to be obtained in a cleft with far more flexibility and far less pain than the previously accepted method. 1998 June 26/2 Using a mixture of lay-backing, hand-jamming and brute strength I forced my way up the initial corner crack. 1939 P. Di Donato ii. vii. 99 If you death-murdered cocks desire not to work then say so and go into the cellar and do the hand-job! 1969 P. Roth 19 If only I could cut down to one hand-job a day. 1984 M. Amis 29 Towards the end I thought I might even try and wangle a handjob out of her. 2000 (Oakland Community College) 14 i. 64 You, a great lover. A master of technique. Them, a massage parlor hand-job. 1606 T. Palmer ii. 68 Hand kissing, bowed bodies and knees, embracings, conioyning and shaking of the hand. 1868 E. Yates III. iii. v. 180 The leaders exchanged sweet hand-kissings. 1997 29 May 13/2 A German-style toff, given to heel-clicking, hand-kissing and fine Rhine wine. 1824 R. Stevenson 8 The bottom or hand-laid stones are said to work their way from the bottom to the surface. 1872 56 Each letter is inlaid in J. Whatman's hand-laid paper. 1939 F. C. Scobey 34 Hand-laid and troweled concrete. 1999 (Nexis) 25 July g1 The hand-laid oak floor has strips of cherry inset. 2006 34 533 Decorative borders (all printed on hand-laid paper). the mind > language > a language > [noun] > sign language 1625 W. Hodson sig. A3 How many a Lad touch'd but with Cupids Fiers,..aspires In a Hand-Language (complementall French) To court and sport, and dally with his Wench? 1894 A. B. Bramwell & H. M. Hughes 8 Those speaking to her must use the hand-language. 2010 J. Rosner 108 She used a hand language before she learned to speak. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 243 Unwis hond leggynge is chalenged of þe. 1849 J. W. Etheridge tr. 157 By the hand-laying of the Apostles the Spirit of Holiness was given. 2000 E. Hill in A. Hastings et al. 59/2 In the ancient church order.., the water rite is immediately followed by the bishop's hand-laying with prayer and unction of the (fore)head. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > navigational aids > [noun] > sounding-line or -rod 1669 H. Brayne Inventorie Shipp Carolina 17 Aug. in L. Cheves (2000) 139 Foure hand Leads. 1745 P. Thomas 314 Sometimes we should have seven Fathom on one Side of the Ship, and no Ground with the Hand Lead on the other. 1828 J. M. Spearman 384 The hand-lead-line, which is generally 20 fathoms in length, is worked at every 2 or 3 fathoms. 2004 J. Stockwin (2005) xii. 303 Poulden..would send the hand-lead plummeting down, singing out in cadence the exact depth of water. the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > magnification or magnifying instruments > [noun] > magnifying glass > types of 1839 XV. 180 It is..very convenient as a hand-lens, but its definition is of course not so good as that of a well-made doublet or achromatic lens. 1892 14 i. 10 An examination with a hand lens. 2005 11 Apr. 45/1 I'm a botanist—I carry a hand lens. the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > equipment and buildings > [noun] > glazed frame or cloche 1786 J. Lucas 3rd Day’s Sale. Lot 42 Four glazed hand lights. 1824 M. R. Mitford I. 13 A melon bed!—fie! What a grand pompous name was that for three melon plants under a hand-light! 1939 22 Sept. 20/1 The cuttings may be inserted in a cold frame, or, failing that, under a cloche or home-made handlight. 1998 (Nexis) 12 Apr. (Features section) 62 Bell-shaped glass cloches and iron- or lead-framed handlights, miniature greenhouses to protect single plants. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1888) I. 304 The peple lyke a cumpanie of Wylde beistes, hand louse. ?c1625 in E. Beveridge & J. D. Westwood (1924) No. 226 Better hand louse nor bund to ane ill baikie. 1971 12 July A hand-loose generation does not relate to an up-tight President. 1847 S. W. Eager 463 The white men ladened with back and hand luggage, trudged along close in upon Sarah's horse. 1924 W. J. Locke iv Maxime possessed himself of her hand-luggage. 2006 May 20/2 You can now turn up at the gate 15 minutes before take-off if you've checked in online and only have hand luggage. 1549 H. Latimer 3rd Serm. sig. Ji A hand maker in hys offyce, to make hys sonne a great man. 1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus II. Jude xxiiiv Handmaking of gaynes, whiche thinge dooeth moste principally defile the doctrine of Christe. 1856 6 June 491/2 The old system of handmaking [of bricks] and clamp burning. 1907 May 432 As intelligence increased, and inventive genius was applied, hand-making grew into machine-making. 2011 (Nexis) 28 Oct. c33 Craft—as in the skillful handmaking of objects that might be decorative, functional or both. 1637 in J. M. Cowper (1891) 186 [Signed] William Wellton by his hand mark. 1879 Dec. 266/1 Much of his poetry does not bear its maker's hand-mark so distinctly as that of Longfellow or Whittier is wont to do. 1915 1 Mar. 272/2 Does not this proposition bear the handmark of notoriety in secular rather than Christian characteristics. 1974 A. Gill et al. in (Internat. Centre for Mech. Sci.) II. v. 43 The touch sensors help us to determine the plane containing the hand mark from the known position of the touched object. 1999 R. Wilson in C. Furjanic (ed. 2) 119/1 Great debate exists among collectors as to the chronology of these hand marks. c1475 (c1399) (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) ii. l. 155 (MED) He mellid so þe matall with þe hand-molde [perh. read hand-melle], That [þey] lost lemes, þe leuest þat þey had.] 1600 in J. Barmby (1888) 133 For a handmell, and crosspin of iron, to mend or make bald~rigs for our bells. 1639 in W. Cramond (1903) I. 264 Anye that pleisit to bye the samin for sewin merkis the boll hand money. 1762 G. Colman (Dublin ed.) i. 21 O. Mask. Married! to whom? Freem. To a lady of fortune—rich, young, and handsome—A girl with thirty thousand pound in hand money, Mr. Mask. 1864 G. A. Sala (1865) II. 383 Beer and a shilling hand-money do the rest [of the recruiting-sergeant's work]. 1885 S. Fallows Hand-money, earnest money; money paid to bind a contract or bargain. 1959 Apr. 8/2 Earnest money. This is a small sum a prospective buyer turns over to show that he means business in offering to buy a property... In some localities, it is called ‘hand money’. 2002 T. J. Bellairs et al. (ed. 9) 198 Brokers are responsible for depositing funds they receive that belong to others (for example, hand money and security deposits) into an escrow account. 1688 R. Holme iii. ii. 25/1 Two Muffs, or Hand Muffs; the first is Sable, turned up at each end with a Furr of the same. 1814 93 In the on-set the combatants wore hand-muffs. 1859 27 Oct. 686 His shako, or field hat is sometimes..a rough drum of hair,..like a lady's hand-muff. 1911 A. H. Cordier xxi. 249 A..hand muff for some society belle. 2010 (Nexis) 25 Feb. I wanted the fur coats and hand muffs that Agnetha and Frieda had on trudging through the snow in one of their Abba videos. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [noun] > spinning > machine > types of 1831 2nd Ser. 5 336 Mills were then built of a suitable width, and in the course of a few years the hand-mule was entirely superseded. 1922 H. H. Hain xv. 263 The mill contained an old ‘hand-mule’ spinner, with 160 spindles. 2007 J. Greenlees iii. 48 Spinning was initially done on hand mules that required greater physical strength to operate than did power mules. eOE (Royal 12 D.xvii) 1 Gif mon biþ on wæterælfadle, þonne beoþ him þa handnæglas wonne. 1772 Feb. 92/2 The flesh, hair, and toe and hand nails, were as perfect..as though he [sc. Thomas Beaufort, d. 1427] had not been dead six hours. 1872 2 Nov. 503/2 The Chinese..are in the habit..of wearing ridiculously long hand-nails. 1880 27 Feb. 148/1 Between 1825 and 1840, 50,000 men were employed in making hand nails. Now, the number has fallen to 20,000, the machine nails supplanting hand nails. 1912 23 Sept. 1145/1 (heading) Machine nails and hand nails. 1927 15 Apr. 6/7 (advt.) Oil manicure for hand nails. 2001 P. Tassoni v. 93/3 Toe and hand nails must be cut using baby scissors. 2006 B. Hodge iii. 35 As previously mentioned, gun nails are 3 mm thick whereas hand nails are 3.75 mm thick. 1656 J. Tradescant 150 Male hand Orchys. 1754 R. Brookes iv. 227 Hand Orchis with a green Flower. 1840 W. Baxter V. 387 Whitish Hand-Orchis. 1904 E. Phillpotts 132 An orchis or two—the early purple, the spotted hand orchis, the marsh-orchis and the lesser butterfly orchis—may be found in such a moist corner. 1931 M. Grieve II. 604/1 In this species, the tubers are divided into two or three finger-like lobes, hence the plant has been known as ‘Dead Men's Fingers’ (Hamlet, IV, vii), Hand Orchis, or Palma Christi. 1882 10 Jan. 6/3 They removed the hand phone from the telephone..[to prevent] anyone who might awaken from calling the police station. 1959 N. Barasch & C. Moore i. ii. 21 (stage direction) Looks at Claire curiously. Presses a button, and picks up the hand phone. 1967 9 Dec. 40/2 You can call him on his phone in his car. Right now he's considering a portable hand phone. 1992 (Nexis) 22 May Singapore handphone users who want to enjoy the use of such phones while in Malaysia can now do so through a new Mobile Service Link between the two countries. 2012 P. Kitiarsa in M. Ford & L. Lyons ii. 48 Weera described the intensive use of his hand-phone to court women. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > horse-gear > [noun] > rings or loops the world > health and disease > healing > dentistry > [noun] > dentists' drills > part of the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > sheep-farming > sheep-shearing > [noun] > machine > part of 1840 31 Oct. 414/2 By ‘hand pieces’ our readers will understand that we refer to loops buckling on to the reins which gives one a better hold. 1889 C. A. Harris (ed. 12) 526 Its use will also keep the hand-piece in good condition. 1914 J. B. Parfitt in N. G. Bennett 326 Hand-pieces..are often liable to get very much soiled. 1950 May 463/3 Thorough scrubbing of the shearing board with disinfectant and the cleansing of handpieces are also worthwhile practices. 1954 R. H. Cochrane (ed. 2) 85 Electrically-driven shearing plants may have an independent motor driving each hand-piece. 2009 C. L. Pankhurst & W. A. Coulter vii. 104 The interior is dried with compressed air and the handpiece is ready for sterilization. 1615 E. S. sig. B Two or three hand pikes of Ash. 1788 J. St. John I. vii. 49 The officers carried a kind of hand pike. 1883 E. Guest i. iii. 95 The pilum was barely 6 feet long, and could be used either as a hand-pike or a missile. 1903 S. Lane-Poole 351 The mass of the army was..armed with sabres, pikes, and arrows. The last was the favorite weapon of the Moghuls and Persians; the hand-pike being the special arm of the Rajputs. 2006 J. R. Carpenter iii. 86 Once an enemy ship had been boarded, the hand-pike was cast aside in favor of weapons more suited to close combat. 1873 (War Dept., Washington, D.C.) No. 2. 28 (table) Hand pins. 1881 W. W. Greener 262 Another pin will then be seen in the rear end of the trigger-plate, remove this pin (occasionally this ‘hand-pin’ is placed in the reverse way). 2006 M. Yardley (ed. 2) 210 A line is also drawn along the bottom of the stock from the point of the toe to a point just in front of the hand pin. 1825 J. Conder I. 179 This is the arbol de las manitas, or hand-plant. 1892 12 Dec. 341/3 (heading) The Mexican hand-plant. 1982 M. W. Mathias i. 32 Chiranthodendron pentadactylon... Mexican hand plant. 1987 (Nexis) 9 Mar. 1 Parvin, 23, and other skaters spend countless hours learning and perfecting ‘kick turns’, ‘hand plants’, ‘ollies’ and other skating tricks on ramps. 1991 R. King v. 21/1 If you hang around good skateboarders, maybe you'll see a really good one do ‘inverts’, or ‘hand plants’. 2004 Jan. 28/1 The event's founder..was on top form showing the new boys how they used to do it with some crazy hand plants and McTwists. 1663 J. Beale Let. 9 Nov. in R. Boyle (2001) II. 197 Tis nowe more easy by our hand plough to teare up some furrowes. 1884 Feb. 188/1 There are..tracers, or hand-ploughs, to mark out the areas to be cut by grooves [in ice]. 1999 J. M. Coetzee (2000) xviii. 151 It would have taken him days with a hand-plough and oxen. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > table game > other table games > [noun] > span-counter or farthing 1659 G. Torriano Al-palmo, the play our children call, At span-counter, or at Hand-point. 1891 No. 13. 91 From a trial made on planting corn in an isolated part of the field, removing the tassels and hand pollinating the ears without covering, better results were obtained. 1918 15 Aug. 470/2 To hand-pollinate the flowers of a soft-shelled tree with pollen from a tree of similar character. 2011 (Nexis) 10 Sept. f10 As the vines bloomed, he hand-pollinated several blossoms, then determined which of the baby pumpkins might aspire to the big leagues. 1894 M. B. Waite ii. 26 The crossed and hand-pollinated flowers were all covered with paper bags, which were not removed till the flowers had fallen. 1951 5 304/2 Approximately 50,000 hand-pollinated ears have been handled yearly by Smith during the past 20 years. 2010 (Nexis) 16 Oct. (Lifestyle section) Mark the hand-pollinated fruit to distinguish them from fruit that may have formed from pollen brought by natural pollinators. 1890 4 276 Last year over 400 hand pollinations of squashes were made, and the plantings this year cover several acres. 1920 Nov. 328 Hand pollination is oftentimes a profitable operation in connection with the development of the early portion of the crop. 2011 R. E. Paull & O. Duarte I. iv. 99 When bees are absent, hand-pollination has to be carried out. society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > [noun] > that which guides or leads > signpost or stone 1764 (title of Act) Act for amending, widening, and keeping in repair, several roads..from the Birches Brook to the Hand Post, in the parish of Kemberton. 1791 J. Hampson III. 101 A clergyman is like a hand-post; if he shew the way, it is not necessary he should walk in it himself. 1824 Feb. 279/2 My horse broke down just after the check at the handpost, and I had an agreeable walk home. 1919 T. Hardy in Dec. 802 Why go any road now? White stands the handpost for brisk onbearers. 2003 K. M. Srinivasa Gowda tr. P. Tējasvi 170 ‘Sir, I got bitten by a dog at the Handpost. I had to take injections,’ he said. 1665 R. Brathwait 166 Give me your Hand-Promise, that after I have told you this Question, you will grant whatsoever I shall demand of you. 1833 W. Carleton 2nd Ser. III. 235 Few would rely upon the word or oath of any man who had been known to break a hand-promise. 1908 J. Barlow 28 You strangely mistake, If it's break me hand-promise, you'd have me. 1892 15 Oct. 12/4 The rest of the company were obliged to carry their own hand-props. 1937 May 724/2 ‘Furniture’ designates props too large to carry in the hand, while a ‘hand-prop’ is a small item such as a vase. 2008 48 93 Except for some hand props, the film's entire diegesis was computer-generated. 1885 28 Feb. 223/3 Hand properties, that is to say.., anything to be used, eaten, or drunk upon the stage. 2002 J. G. Harris & N. Korda i. 22 A specific set of hand properties within a play. 1870 J. G. Cooper & S. F. Baird (Geol. Surv. Calif.) I. 570 (gloss.) Hand-quills (Remiges primariæ). The (usually) ten stiff feathers inserted on the hand or first joint (metacarpus and digit), or from the bend of the wing to the tip. 1915 A. E. Shipley & E. W. MacBride (ed. 3) xxiv. 608 The latter [sc. the hand] is highly modified and specialised for the important function of carrying the long primaries or hand quills. 1988 B. Kurtén i. 25 The posterior hand quills are shorter, and their aerodynamic significance..is probably secondary to that of the anterior ones. 1535 Acts vi. A Their wyddowes were not loked vpon in the daylie handreachinge. 1883 6 Oct. 6/2 The hand-reader..is an unusually harmless fortune-teller. 2009 90/2 Wolff fled Nazi Berlin in the 1930s and travelled to Paris and London, where she practised as a chirologist (hand-reader). the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > divination by natural phenomena > palmistry > [noun] 1867 A. R. Craig 31 In obedience to the stern dictates of the hand-reading art. 1960 C. Storr ii. 29 She asked if I wanted the cards or the crystal or a hand reading. 2010 S. Baumbach in M. Hattaway I. xxxvii. 588 Physiognomy was..reduced to its ancillary disciplines: chiromancy or palmistry (hand-reading), and metoposcopy. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > rear animals [verb (transitive)] > hand-rear 1846 in R. G. Welford i. 45 Have you been in the habit of hand rearing game? 1861 9 Mar. 270/2 (advt.) The comparative properties of human and animal milks, suggesting a system by which infants may be hand-reared with success. 1893 G. D. Leslie xix. 128 I curse my stars when the children bring me one of these helpless waifs and strays [sc. stoats and weasels], knowing from repeated experiences the futility of attempting to hand-rear them. 1966 (Farmers Weekly Farm Women's Club) 100 Beauty delivered her litter and promptly died, leaving the twelve pups to be hand-reared. 2006 1 June 17/2 The ones that were hand-reared are still noticeably tamer than the parent-reared ones. 1853 H. Cockton I. i. 11 The plantation..is studded with ‘hand-reared’ game. 1861 12 Jan. 33/1 A question naturally arises as to the best substitute for breast-milk in the case of hand-reared children. 1894 2 Oct. 6/6 Both with natural and hand-reared birds. 1996 71 580/2 An individual owl's journey through life from a 4-week old hand-reared owlet to maturity. 2011 Mar. 24/3 By winter our hand-reared flock had been cruelly whittled down to just two. 1840 J. E. Jones 203/1 Llawfaethiad,..a hand-rearing. 1849 21 85 The statistics in public institutions are well known to show a terrible rate of mortality in hand-rearing. 1953 17 465 Banding data procured during a twenty-one-year period of hand-rearing and wild-trapping of ducks at the Delta Marsh. 2008 J. Blunden (ed. 2) 119 There is an attempt to re-establish a second population of Mongolian saiga, which would require the hand-rearing of young antelopes. 1972 31 July 3 a/4 All of them [sc. massage parlours], she reported, offer ‘hand relief’—a euphemism for masturbation—as part of their standard massage. 1982 E. McLeod ii. 35 It's £10 for topless hand relief (masturbating the client) £15 for strip and relief. 1993 J. Green 417 Most good massages take an hour/hour and a half. ‘And there's hand relief at the end.’ 2009 (Nexis) 22 May 53 If I masturbate or have hand relief, I can last for ages, but as soon as my wife gives me oral sex or we get down to intercourse, I can't last at all. 1336 20/20 (MED) De lxvj petris cordarum de Canabo..emptis ibidem pro iiijor handropes inde faciendis. 1495–7 in M. Oppenheim (1896) 267 Hande ropes xviij. Takes for the mayne sayle ij. 1647 W. Eldred 117 Ginnes, with Ginne-Ropes and other things thereto belonging, 8 Racks or Martinets 4 Hand-Ropes 6 One Carbisant, 1 Deal boards, a great quantity. 1868 18 Sept. 253/1 The various motions being thrown into and out of gear by means of handropes. 1988 Mar. 58/3 Attach an end of the stringer rope to each hand rope with a clove hitch. a1699 W. Temple Ess. Pop. Discontents in (1701) 91 The seamen will neither stand to their Tackle, hand sails, or suffer the Pilot to steer as he pleases. 1741 Log H.M.S. 'Centurion' 5 Mar. in (1744) 22 Hard Gales, and squally Weather, which made us reef our Hand-Sails, and lie to. 1960 24 33 Suitable facilities should be provided at the work sites to include wash basins and hand sanitizer dispensers. 1998 (Nexis) 26 Oct. 22 Some of the world's biggest consumer products marketers are moving into the suddenly booming category of hand sanitizers. 2011 A. Sweeney 64 I'm a bit of a germophobe. I carry hand sanitizer at all times. society > occupation and work > equipment > lifting or hoisting equipment > [noun] > others ?1660 (single sheet) Cases of Wood for Cartridges for..Hand-screws. 1688 R. Holme (1905) iii. xviii. 139/2 A Hand screw, or screw engine: or Ghynne or Wynch. 1765 T. H. Croker et al. II Hand-Screw, an instrument more usually called a jack. 1850 J. Greenwood 123 Hand-screws or jacks. This engine is used to cant beams or other weighty timbers: it consists of a box of elm containing cogged iron wheels of increasing powers. 1914 A. A. Dowd (‘Machinery’ Ref. Bk. No. 121) i. 6 A two-jawed chuck..[is] screwed to the spindle of a small hand screw machine. 2002 June 65 Use a handscrew or an adjustable wrench to twist the stretcher into position, if needed. a1450 ( tr. Vegetius (Douce) f. 17 (MED) Þey moste ben tauȝt to caste & þrowe wiþ hand schaftes [v.r. hand staues; L. hastilia] of double weyȝte þat here verray spere schaftes schul ben aftirwarde. 1598 J. Florio Sommessa, the length of a span or hand-breadth, a hand shaft so called of our drapers. 1971 B. W. Aldiss 87 You want to stay away from Indian women... I know you're a lusty young lad.., but you'd do best to stick to the old hand-shandy. 1993 37 5 Studies consistently show that most prostitutes routinely use condoms for all services, including hand-shandies and oral sex. 2004 (Nexis) 6 May 11 A bit of how's your father with a flesh and blood woman is far more normal and much less wacko than having a hand shandy in front of virtual spectators. 1768 H. Brooke III. xvi. 163 They tossed their granadoes or hand shells among us. 1860 1 488/2 The missiles hurled at the French Emperor were a species of hand-shells, made of cast steel, lathe-turned, in hemispheres, charged with the fulminate of mercury. 1992 T. E. O'Connor iv. 73 The cast-iron end sleeves of electric cables..were the right size and shape to serve as casings for hand shells. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > covering spec parts of body > arm > types of 1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius 172/1 Manica..the handsleeue: the sleeue of a garment. 1686 No. 2192/4 A Purple Wastcoat, with narrow Gold Lace on the Hand sleeves. 1704 Let. 8 Dec. in (1751) II. 183 Two large diamonds, as big as ordinary hand sleeve buttons. 1866 3 Nov. 1/3 As a hand soap for mechanics..and painters it can't be beat. 1967 T. W. Blackburn viii. 64 A bushel of oval cakes of something that looked like cheap vermilion hand soap. 2012 (Nexis) 5 Oct. Pumped from sink-brightening graphic bottles, Caldrea's scented refillable hand soaps..are infused with essential oils, such as lavender and basil. the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement of length > [noun] > units of length or distance > length or breadth of hand > span of hand 1854 J. Harrington xvii. 260 Better than a dead faithlessness to everything that is not within measure of the foot-pace or the hand-span. 1898 Feb. 329/1 When the President was declared victor it was only by a handspan. 1905 18 Dec. (table) Hand span..9 inches. 1998 Feb. 67/1 A large hand span is required to negotiate the thicker chords. 2011 T. Clare xviii. 246 Grace leaned back and swam a few hand spans out into the water. 1802 Sept. 16 A complete gradation from the purest granular quartz to granite, and not only in hand specimens, but in the mountains themselves. 1917 A. F. Fischer 8 During the year there were distributed to forest stations 669 hand specimens. 2001 65 233 A somewhat similar fabric..but with more quartz grains present. Hence a sandier fabric in the hand-specimen. 1868 16 241 The special suitability of this apparatus, as a hand-spectroscope,..induces me to offer a description of it to the Royal Society. 1933 S. W. Cole (ed. 9) xi. 276 If a powerful illuminant is used the spectrum of reduced cytochrome can be observed with a hand spectroscope. 2008 A. Thomas 124 The hand spectroscope may reveal a single clear-cut absorption line at 5060Å. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > [noun] > somersault > types of 1833 25 May 355/1 He entered Saunders's company of tumblers, and amongst them he threw summersets and handsprings. 1895 19 Dec. 437/3 Children..throwing handsprings and standing on their heads. 2007 13 June (Extra section) 4/2 A back handspring.., involving a leap and flip backwards from a stand to a handstand, returning to a stand. 1543 A. St Leger Let. 6 Apr. in S. H. O'Grady (1892) 573 Ther boyes beare for them thre dartes a piece, whiche darts they throwe or they come to the hand stripe. 1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus ii. vi. 152 To fighte it oute at hand stripes. society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > [noun] > others 1690 No. 2597/4 If any Brown Paper-maker will Buy either Rags, Ropes or Hand-stuff of said Company, they may be supplied at the Companies Warehouse. 1799 2 314 Dealers in..what is called hand stuff and old stores. 1838 12 Dec. Several tons of rags, consisting of..handstuff, bagging, bleached half-stuff, [etc.]. 1883 50 (advt.) Light Grey, Mixtures, or Hand Stuff, Clean Sorted, contracted for in 10 to 200 ton Parcels. 1862 G. Rawlinson I. 271 The use of the Hand swipe..is mentioned by Herodotus and even represented upon the sculptures. 1893 Oct. 35 The hand-swipe or shaduf. a1425 (Stonyhurst) f. 21v Diptica, an peire of hond tables. (Harl. 221) 225 Hand tablys.., pugillaris. 1835 M. J. Barker in 214 How she heads, when full-and-by, upon a hand-taut bowline. c1860 H. Stuart (rev. ed.) 33 Heave hand taut. 2006 B. Cooper & L. Cooper (ed. 5) v. 87 Keep the line hand taut while manoeuvring the yacht closer. 1794 (Royal Soc.) 84 262 Having prepared my hand telescope, being a 7-feet reflector, with a power magnifying 50 times with great distinctness, and with a field that took in more than the disk of the sun, I watched attentively for the first contact. 1843 8 124 He endeavoured to bring a hand telescope to bear upon the brightest of these objects. 1936 Jan. 66/3 All you need is a snapshot camera and a small hand telescope. 2014 N. Rinaldi xiii. 177 He wasn't talking about going up in a hot-air balloon and spying on the enemy with a hand telescope. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > handball, etc. > [noun] > fives 1801 J. Strutt ii. iii. 88 Hand-tennis..is now called fives. 1904 Mar. 13/1 The annual handicap hand tennis tournament was commenced on Feb. 11. 1987 P. Robinson vi. 74 The children played hand-tennis or cricket against stumps chalked on the wall. 1747 Oct. 473/1 The hand-thrown jav'lin, arrow twang'd from yeugh, Outstripp'd by wishes, linger'd as they flew. 1888 Mar. 357/2 On one of the men..was found a colored plan on which the trajectory of a hand-thrown bomb of a given weight was calculated. 1933 74 38/1 (caption) These are hand-thrown pieces on the wheel. 1976 10 June 587/1 A hand-thrown missile was chosen for the contest because its mechanics are poorly understood. 2005 W. Lawton 18 He knew the process, the smells, the sounds, and the cool smoothness of a hand-thrown clay pot. the world > matter > physics > mechanics > force > [adjective] > relating to tension the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fastening > condition of being fast bound or firmly fixed > [adjective] 1794 D. Steel I. 167 Hand-tight. A moderate degree of tension on a rope, as to make it straight. 1881 F. Young §443. 194 This tongue should fit the groove somewhat tightly indeed in the manner called by joiners ‘hand tight’ meaning so tight that it cannot readily be pulled out with the hand. 1993 (new ed.) viii. 376/3 Connect the corrugated pipes to the tap tails, leaving them hand-tight only. the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > rubbing with towel > towel > hand-towel 1454 in J. A. Kingdon (1886) II. 351 (MED) Item ij litil hand towelles. 1598 J. Florio Sciugatóio, a hand-towell, a wiper, a rubbing cloth. 1778 S. Hood Let. in P. Ziegler (1971) ii. 26 2 Dozen of Hand Towels. 2003 V. O. Carter 91 His gaze..was fixed upon the white hand towel around her neck. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > mountaineering or climbing > [noun] > actions 1897 O. G. Jones xvii. 268 We each in turn ventured on the hand-traverse from above... It is so named because the climber hangs by his hands,..and traverses across the face by sheer strength of his arms. 1935 D. Pilley i. 17 Above this the ‘hand traverse’ faced us. A crack..offers sloping and not very good holds to the hands..the slab gives a little friction to the knees, but not very much. 2006 A. Genereux 134 The hand traverse leads right to the second last bolt. 1805 22 59 They visited also at Tolucca the famous hand-tree the cheiranthostæmon of M. Cervantes. 1951 23 Oct. 7/6 The hand tree, native of Mexico, takes its name from the form of its flowers. 2012 (Nexis) 30 Mar. 14 Trees and shrubs from all continents..a monkey puzzle tree, Australian bottle brush, cinnamon tree from India, the Mexican hand tree. 1846 4 Dec. 1/4 The patent brick machine, for making stock bricks..out of common hand-turned Clay. 1929 M. W. Beckwith 27 Earthen bowls, hand turned and covered with a rude glaze, are always to be had in the Kingston market. 2002 K. Jamie i. 38 She hunkered on the floor, sewing a new shalwar on a hand-turned sewing machine. 1249 in (1844) I. *85/1 Si aliqua querela sit in marchiis inter regna..& defendens apparet, debet transire marchiam & debet accipere handwarsil..de tribus hominibus ad testandum secum quod sufficienter comparuit ad diem suum. 1280 in J. Bain (1884) II. 59 [A writ from the sheriff of Cumberland to the..sheriff of Dumfries, that he let him have] handwarcelle [regarding the robbery]. 1677 R. Plot 255 Rattles they hand-weed as soon as in flower. 1772 A. Young Let. 12 Jan. in R. Dossie (1782) III. 27 [I] hand-weeded it, August 22nd. 1807 861 The plants are twice hand-weeded. 1973 J. Seymour & S. Seymour xiii. 169 If you can horse hoe or hand hoe or hand weed so much the better. 2011 (National ed.) 25 Sept. (T Style Mag.) 52/1 The rows were set wide, and the soil had not been hand-weeded. 1842 12 Nov. 272/2 Four pairs of smaller wheels for hand whims. 1865 H. Bauerman 71 The hand whim is now nearly extinct; it resembles an ordinary horse whim of small size. 1911 27 Sept. 20/1 The old hand whim that was used in the 80's is being taken out and an old winze 300 feet deep is being opened up. 1972 W. Perry vi. 73 There were also models of water wheels.., tools used in boring, horse- and hand-whims, windlasses, [etc.]. 1667 Duke of Newcastle 182 The Shambriere is too Dull a thing; and so are all Whips, Hand-whips, and all. 1796 W. Marshall (ed. 2) I. 302 Reins..at once answer the purpose of guiding and driving: thus far exceeding the less handy line, and the hand whip of Norfolk. 1835 Feb. 20 The weasel..was only, at last, put to flight by repeated blows with his hand-whip. 2009 ‘J. Hart’ i. 14 O'Rourke hit the gelding's flank fairly hard with his hand whip. 1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher iv. sig. H2 Though I am tame..I may leape Like a hand-wolfe into my naturall wildnesse, And doe an outrage. ?1660 H. King 16 Worryed by those Hand-wolves You for His Ruine bred. Derivatives 1780 3 Nov. It hath the swoln belly, and digituted hand-like forepaw of the frog. 1813 W. Bingley (ed. 4) I. 63 The hand-like conformation of their fore-feet. 1895 Feb. 190 Even the tree kangaroos have most hand-like claws. 1946 Jan. 28/4 Five clawed toes are usually seen in the hand-like tracks of the raccoon. 1996 24 Feb. 4/1 A tiny fish which crawls along the seafloor on hand-like fins. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022). handv. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: hand n. Etymology: < hand n. Compare earlier handle v.1 the world > action or operation > behaviour > follow (a course of behaviour) [verb (transitive)] > behave towards the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)] > conduct (an affair) > deal with (a matter) c1440 (?a1400) l. 3209 (MED) Make oure ostage at ese..And luk ȝe honden them all that in myn oste lengez. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda i. lxxii. f. 149 Hauing certeine knowledge heereof, he so hande the matter, and in such order, that forthwith hee tooke them all prisoners. 1602 R. Parsons viii. f. 106 Now in this book as a fuller treatese of all their spiritual designments he handeth the matter much more largly. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iv. 346 When I was yong, And handed loue, as you do. View more context for this quotation 1655 (new ed.) xiii. 172 I am now handing a doctrine to be trembled at, while you are attending to it. the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold [verb (transitive)] > lay hold of or grasp the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] c1460 (?c1400) l. 1824 (MED) Þe Sergauntis..sesid Beryn by the scleve... Quod Beryn to þe Seriauntis, ‘þat yee me handith so?’ a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. i. 21 If you can command these Elements to silence..wee will not hand a rope more. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. iii. 64 Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes First hand me. View more context for this quotation 1653 J. Ford iii. sig. D/2 (stage-direct.) Enter Bufo and another Groom with wine, both drunk; Bufo handing Velasco by the shoulders. 1709 M. Prior Lady's Looking-glass in 45 I bless my Chain, I hand my Oar, Nor think on all I left on Shoar. 1786 J. Wedgwood in (Royal Soc.) 76 397 What we call handing or slapping the clay, an operation by which its different parts are intermixed. 1885 XVIII: Pt. ii. viii. 330 The mámlatdár..might inflict slight corporal punishment, handing him roughly, pulling and pushing him about, [etc.]. 1896 F. P. Kopta tr. F. L. Rieger in (ed. 2) 149 With quick hand his axe he handeth. society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > show (the way) [verb (transitive)] > bring or take to a place society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > show (the way) [verb (transitive)] > guide, lead, or show one the way > by contact 1590 To Rdr. sig. A2 The Horse when hee is first handed to the warres, starteth at the cracke of euery peece. 1591 H. Smith ii. 85 The Communicants Catechisme, which leadeth immediatly to the Sacrament as a guest is handed to the Table. a1631 J. Donne Elegie (Death) 51 in (1633) Angels did hand her up, who next God dwell. 1638 T. Herbert (rev. ed.) 120 The Sultan and Shawbander handed him out of his Bardge. 1697 W. Dampier ii. 15 Our tallest men stood in the deepest place, and handed the sick, weak, and short men. 1740 S. Richardson II. 118 And so handed me to the Coach..and sat backwards, over-against me. 1761 M. Cooper 147 I saw..thee right gallantly hand her up stairs. 1764 S. Foote i. 15 (stage direct.) Enter Mrs. Sneak, handed by the Major. 1821 J. Clare I. 34 He hands her o'er the stile. 1862 A. Trollope II. xiii. 103 He handed her into the carriage. 1909 Apr. 80/2 The boat..touching at the little dock then, he handed her across the gangplank with a deliciously grown-up air. 1961 Nov. 25/1 As he handed her into the battered, waxed, and polished little coupe, she noted with elation how handsome he looked. 2000 J. Barrington 14 My mother..disregarded all instructions as my father and I handed her down from the jetty. society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > carry specific amount of sail [verb (transitive)] > strike or take in (sails) 1625 S. Purchas IV. vi. i. 1149 The Ascension thus furnished, met with such a fret of winde that with all haste they handed in their sailes. 1634 T. Herbert 5 The Sailers..handing in their sailes and standing on the Deckes..in their wet clothes. a1643 W. Monson Naval Tracts iii, in A. Churchill & J. Churchill (1704) III. 364/1 With Ten Sailors to hand the Sails. 1720 D. Defoe 234 We were glad to Hand all our Sails. 1790 R. Beatson I. 192 The mizen top-sail was handed to prevent the mast and rigging from falling about their ears. 1833 M. Scott I. ii. 88 We..handed the fore-topsail, and presently she was alongside. 1881 28 Jan. ‘They must be handing the maintopsail,’ I thought. 1908 J. D. Whidden xv. 154 Before the sail could be handed the wind increased rapidly. 2004 P. Nielsen viii. 72 After the sail is handed and the halyard is removed, the block and mousing line can be left in place. 1630 P. Massinger iv. i. sig. H3v Let but my power and meanes, hande with my will. 6. the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] > pass with the hand 1642 H. Hexham (ed. 2) viii. 47 You take out the earth, and carry it away in a vessell, or a pall of leather, which is light, in handing it one to another, till it be brought out of the hole. 1650 Sir T. Browne (ed. 2) v. vi. 207 Judas..was so near, that our Saviour could hand the sop unto him. 1692 Royal Proclam. 13 Sept. in No. 2802/1 Persons who..shall..hand or bring any such Libel to the Press. 1726 329 I would hand the Hat and his Arms to him. 1766 H. Brooke II. viii. 29 The judge cried out, Clerk, hand me up the examination of this prevaricator. 1828 23 419 I was handed the play-bill on entering. 1843 C. J. Lever iv He poured..a brimming goblet full of some white compound, and handed it to me. 1891 E. Peacock I. 201 Hilary handed the paper to Sir Sampson. 1905 22 Feb. 9/2 A teacup-full of whisky which was handed to him by the cook as an aperitif. 1954 E. Taylor 125 She handed me a large bunch of wild strawberries, the stalks warm from her hand. 2001 P. Burston vi. 81 ‘C'mon, babes,’ he said softly, handing her a glass and gently squeezing her shoulder. the mind > possession > giving > give [verb (transitive)] the world > food and drink > food > serving food > [verb (transitive)] 1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada iv. 77 Scandalous Pamphlets posted up, and handed through the Low-countreys. 1667 E. Waterhouse 27 Had they restrained their hands from theft, and imployed them to master the Fire, by handing water, pulling down houses, ridding away materials mingled with the Fire [etc.]. 1798 J. Griffiths 23 All actions that have the most remote tendency to indelicacy... Throwing things instead of handing them, and crowding others in a passinge. 1851 ii. 44 Don't omit to hand the vegetables and sauces. 1901 F. H. Burnett i. iv. 134 ‘I ought to go and help hand cake,’ she said. 1964 S. Nowell-Smith iv. 183 At smart tables, dishes were now handed by the servants—service à la russe, as it was called. 1990 Aug. 119/2 Serve surrounded by vegetables and sauté potatoes, with the gravy and more redcurrant jelly handed separately. 1893 J. Parker XXII. (John xii. 35) 261 Do not hand me some written creed made in a time of health and fatness and wealth and prosperity; that creed is but so much paper and ink. 1901 S. Merwin & H. K. Webster ii. 21 I told him he ought to give it to somebody else, and he handed me a lot of stuff about my experience. 1908 ‘O. Henry’ (1916) 30 I've had it handed to me in the neck, too. 1926 J. Black vi. 75 You'll..maybe get grabbed off a train and handed thirty days at Colorado Springs. 1949 A. I. Bezzerides (1997) xiii. 123 ‘Why don't you tell me what you're hauling?’.. ‘Don't hand me that crap... You know what I'm hauling.’ 1988 Oct. 2/1 Not only has Kalambay whipped Barkley, he also handed Graham and Mike McCullum the only defeats of their pro careers. 2000 J. C. Oates (2001) 340 Don't hand me any Freudian bullshit, this was an accident. the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] 1642 Sir T. Browne i. §49 In a vacuity..there wants a body or Medium to hand and transport the visible rays of the object unto the sense. 1659 D. Pell 401 I would hand this word unto the Merchants of our Land also. 1698 J. Fryer 176 A Story handed by Tradition. 1735 V. 487 The News was handed from house to house. 1797 R. Proud I. 50 The vulgar names of the days of the week, now used, are handed to us from our heathen ancestors. 1814 J. F. Schermerhorn & S. J. Mills 24 The great mass of the people..were ignorant, poor, and vicious, and have handed to their descendants their feelings and habits. 1897 11 Dec. 578/1 Again the impulse is handed to the axon. 1910 May 568/2 The kind words handed to them from every side were richly deserved. 1998 M. Wyman i. 4 Adventurers and scholars and fishermen began to question the truths about the world handed to them from earlier generations. the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold [verb (transitive)] > clasp the hands or with the hand(s) the world > space > relative position > posture > position of specific body parts > position specific body part [verb (transitive)] > arms or hands > specific hand > hold or clasp (one's or another's hands) 1643 J. Milton 2 If any two be but once handed in the Church. 1667 J. Milton iv. 739 Into thir inmost bower Handed they went. View more context for this quotation 1881 D. C. Murray III. xxxiv. 234 They sat handed, looking at each other now and then, but quite wordless. Phrasessociety > authority > subjection > obedience > submissiveness > submission > submit to [verb (transitive)] > acknowledge superiority or supremacy of 1901 30 Sept. 4/2 The Cup race has no less than eight candidates with records of 2:11 ¼, and if anyone can pick the winner before the race, I will have to hand it to him. 1903 17 Oct. 6/4 You have got to hand it to Johnny Regan. Call him ‘weak hitter’, ‘staller’, or what you will, the shiftly [sic] little Brooklyn man is there with the defense every time he gets into the ring. 1926 G. D. H. Cole & M. Cole xli. 279 ‘I must hand it to you, sir,’ the pseudo-American acknowledged. 1965 30 Sept. 498/1 You've got to hand it to the Jerries, they know how to make cars. 1973 ‘D. Jordan’ xxi. 85 I had to hand it to him: he hadn't missed a trick. 2007 M. Bastinado vii. 106 I've got to hand it to you, Dan, I couldn't do what you do for a million quid. 1940 L. Zinberg 332 He can send me in against the good boys,..figuring I'll get my head handed to me. But I can beat them... I can lick anybody. 1961 R. Granat 157 We were all expectin' to get our ass handed to us on a sling any minute now. 1966 J. Neugeboren v. 96 Maybe I should of been a boxer... But man, you get your ass handed to you, wind up with half a brain. 1994 J. Lovell & J. Kluger (1995) Prologue 4 The surest way to get your head handed to you in the space-travel business was to take it for granted that a smooth flight was going to stay smooth. 2005 J. MacGregor i. 24 If they'd ever actually had to walk into one of those old roadhouses they're forever elegizing, they'd have likely gotten their ass handed to them. Phrasal verbs to hand about the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] > pass with the hand > pass from hand to hand 1660 H. Fletcher 168 This Novelty being handed about from one to another, at last it came to the Lord Generals ear. 1699 E. Ward I. xi. 4 The Baskets of..Peaches, began now to be handed about. 1711 J. Addison No. 58. ¶3 There were several Satyrs and Panegyricks handed about. 1799 Z. Wadsworth in L. Ulrich (2001) ix. 314 To have one's name handed about so publicly & in the newspapers it was too much. 1843 Dec. 746/1 There were two servants busily employed in handing about punch and ‘bishop’. 1864 G. A. Sala in 21 Sept. 5/6 Light refreshments..were handed about. 1927 D. Corley vii. 192 Velisen took out of his pocket a flat bone, engraved with a fish, and handed it about. 2009 C. Dickason (2010) xxiv. 159 I'm handed about like a parcel. 1747 115 A Petition to the Magistrates was handing about among the inhabitants. 1798 T. Jefferson Let. 3 Jan. in (2003) XXX. 10 Many metaphysical niceties are handing about in conversation. 1802 C. Wilmot 3 Jan. (1920) 27 Cakes,..Lemonade, &c., continually handing about the Room. 1835 Apr. 277/2 Petitions are handing about from door to door for signatures. 1988 P. O'Brian ii. 61 Pudding-wine—in this case Frontignan and Canary—was handing about. the mind > possession > giving > giving back or restitution > give back [verb (transitive)] 1638 J. Shirley iv. sig. Hv For Valerio. But must hand-backe that secret, 'twas not ment So early for thy knowledge. 1786 23 The scrap of paper thus approved and signed by the Judge is then handed back to the office of the clerk of assize. 1852 B. Disraeli ii. 34 He [sc. Lord John Russell] endured the mortification of confessing to his sovereign his inability to serve her, and handed back with courtesy the poisoned chalice to Sir Robert [Peel]. 1884 6 Mar. 7/6 The Afrikander Bond..was sending petitions that the Basutos should be handed back to the British Government. 1902 24 Sept. 5/2 The shell-man whom she hired..gallantly handed back the bills of large denominations which the guests passed over to him in making their bets, ‘just for fun’. 1984 N. Guild (1985) i. 4 Max..handed back the thermos and the cardboard parcel with a narrowing of his eyelids and a low, atavistic grunt. 2006 H. O'Neill 7 The teacher shushed everyone up as she handed back our book reports. the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] > transmit > pass on society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > right to succeed to title, position, or estate > succession > cause to descend by succession [verb (transitive)] > cause to descend by inheritance 1651 N. Biggs (new ed.) 125 All along it hath been handed down to posterity, and reckoned among the rapsodies of medicines. 1692 In Praise of Epictetus in E. Walker tr. Epictetus sig. A3 Every word..Your hearers have receiv'd as from an Oracle, And handed down to us. 1722 A. Ramsay i. 4 A good Estate..handed down frae Sire to Son, But Clag or Claim, for Ages past. 1790 E. Burke 48 The institutions of policy, the goods of fortune, the gifts of Providence, are handed down, to us. 1819 W. Scott II. xiv. 269 In our own family, in particular, are secrets which have been handed down since the days of Solomon. 1882 M. E. Braddon I. i. 18 The traditionary college misdemeanours handed down from generation to generation of undergraduates. 1947 K. S. Walker p. xviii Choreography, the evanescent art, has been handed down with insufficient notes from one dancer to another. 2004 Feb. 110/3 Many brides want to carry on family legacies by wearing a dress handed down by their grandmothers. 1823 J. A. Paris & J. S. M. Fonblanque I. ii. 174 Alberti has handed down a decision of the faculty of Halle on this subject. 1878 21 Dec. 651/1 Judge Daniels handed down a decision in the case of the United States Rollings Stock Company vs. John H. Devereux. 1890 Jan. 313 The literary judgments which are handed down in the neighboring tribunal, the Study, are so sound and thoughtful and humane, [etc.]. 1918 15 Mar. 16/1 The Supreme Court..handed down a ruling denying him a new trial. 1944 7 Feb. 1/1 The Department of Labor..would be empowered to hand down decisions ‘which will stick and not be vetoed by any other Federal agency’. 1970 17 Feb. The American Civil Liberties Union has condemned sentences for contempt handed down by Judge Julius Hoffman. 2009 28 May 33/1 A beadily ambitious functionary who would carry out all orders handed down to him, no matter how cruel. the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)] > hand over to another > hand in 1623 R. Jobson 23 The basket being handed in as the custome is, the fish were powred vpon the Decke. 1715 Mem. Life Earl of Halifax 236 in The last of those noble Peers handed in the following Queries to the House, and desir'd their Lordships serious Consideration of them. 1741 in (1777) VI. 824 Mr. Goodere waving his Sword at Macguinis, and handing-in the Candle. 1836 C. Dickens (1837) iv. 40 Come, hand in the eatables. 1870 3 June 5 Such hands!.. The sturdy, the knuckly, the wrinkled, and the scarred—all handing in their written bits of paper. 1909 H. H. Peerless Diary 31 Aug. in (2003) 131 We saw one catch a fish, give it to his friend, who climbed a ladder to the house, and handed it in, we presumed to be cooked. 1949 3 Jan. 49/2 Instead of handing in his homework he sent her [sc. a teacher] love letters. 2006 (Nexis) 2 Nov. 6 They handed in green cards at the Commons reception, for appointments with their respective MPs. 1943 G. Butler v. 71 The idea of walking back, handing himself in, had started to seem foolish. 1987 D. Adams xviii. 135 His behaviour was not that of one who was about to go and hand himself in to the police. 1993 13 Nov. 8/2 I escaped from custody and during that time went back on amphetamines. However, I got very depressed..and a couple of days later I handed myself in. 2005 1 Dec. 5/3 Sean left immediately, went to the police station and handed himself in. 1. Rugby. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > play rugby football [verb (transitive)] > actions to player 1886 2 Jan. 4/3 In the second half Anderton scored, after handing off half a dozen players. 1923 W. J. A. Davies 135 Coates..ran with his head half turned to the right..which gave one the impression that he was waiting and was anxious to hand-off some one. 1987 Mar. 23/2 He handed off Sella and almost did the same with Bérot. 2011 P. Taylor 121 It's not often you see a second-row forward running with the ball. You handed off that Wanderer beautifully. 1892 F. Marshall xx. 443 Alfred Newsome was a strong dashing runner, never going out of his way when making for the goal line, but handing off right and left. 1920 8 Nov. 6/2 The wings ran well and were not afraid to ‘hand-off’. 2010 (Nexis) 4 Mar. 32 Handing off at will, he charged his way down the pitch and added a sweet step to beat the full-back to score. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > American football > play American football [verb (intransitive)] > actions or manoeuvres 1937 6 Nov. 7/6 On the eight yard line, Moses handed off to Reynolds. 1955 28 Nov. 22/1 On this particular play Holleder fakes handing off to Uebel. 1979 1 Apr. c1/1 Ongaga got another second for UTEP against Paul Becklund before handing off to George Mehale. 2000 J. S. Watterson i. 13 The man with the ball touched it to the ground beginning the play and then handed off to a teammate. 1984 20 Mar. 293/1 MCI, the long-distance telephone carrier..has to hand the call off to RCA. 1999 15 Dec. (Eastern ed.) b23/3 Carriers such as AT&T hand off calls to hundreds of other carriers. 2009 (Nexis) 2 July Determine when a mobile session should be handed off from a Wi-Fi network to a cellular network and vice versa. the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] > transmit > pass on 1685 A. Lovell tr. G. Bate i. 64 The Scots..had..taken Newcastle, and other strong places, and handed on the Victory into the more Southern parts. 1722 D. Defoe 238 The Infection was handed on, and the Succession of the Distemper really preserv'd. 1783 R. Knipe iv. 229 It seems..to have been handed on, without any considerable interruptions, quite down to our days. 1834 T. Parry vi. (Heb. vii.) 119 They saw them..transmitting an office, which was in fact too weighty for them to bear, to others, who again handed it on to their successors. 1866 C. Kingsley I. ix. 213 The father handed on the work. 1912 E. Gosse p. viii They were all..engaged in keeping bright, and in handing on unquenched, the torch of literary tradition. 1961 28 July 11/4 Has it [sc. the tune ‘Chopsticks’] been handed on since time out of mind by generations of elder brothers and sisters on wet afternoons? 2000 J. Caughie iii. 61 ‘Oxbridge’..saw itself as the elite institution where the culture was to be defended and handed on. the mind > possession > giving > distributing or dealing out > distribute or deal out [verb (transitive)] 1648 (House of Commons) (single sheet) We shall be..expecting comfortable successe, as it shall by the God of our strength, be handed out unto us, as the fruits of our labours and endeavours. 1785 F. Grose at Figger A little boy put in a window to hand out goods to the diver. 1843 W. M. Thackeray Fitz-Boodle's Confessions in Jan. 82 She placidly handed out this decoction, which we took with cakes and tartines [printed sartines]. 1897 5 June 5/10 Hand out the drawing books, just the same as you would..the pencils and rubbers. 1980 R. Harris in M. Darby 13 You can get quite a good percussion band going by handing out old saucepans and wooden spoons, brushes and lids. 2010 26 Sept. 30/2 David Simon..has been given one of 23 grants handed out this year by the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation in Chicago. 1897 6 May 6/2 It is to be hoped that this conviction was not handed out merely as a means of appeasing popular wrath. 1907 28 Oct. 8/7 Rough riding..was greatly in evidence, but the stewards handed out no penalties. 1976 25 Nov. 25/6 Aberdeen, the holders, handed out a 33–0 defeat to Stirling at Bridge of Allan yesterday. 2012 M. Welham iii. 139 Fines are probably the most common punishment handed out in the Magistrates' Courts. 1. the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)] > hand over to another 1644 J. Lightfoot 142 Pretending them [sc. traditions and glosses upon the Law] to have descended from Moses himselfe, and to have been handed over to them, from hand to hand. 1655 J. Howell xliii. 102 Writings..handed over to posterity as incontroulable truths for so many Ages. 1784 XIII. 227 A majority having supported one Administration, it ought of Course to be handed over as a kind of heir-loome to the succeeding Ministry. 1851 21 97/2 We beg to hand the matter over to the attention of that very respectable body—the ‘parties’ of the new police. 1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato (ed. 2) V. 5 His function of chief speaker is handed over to the Pythagorean philosopher. 1925 ‘F. Lonsdale’ 11 You ought to have heard the stuff they have handed over to her about you! 2010 (Nexis) 7 Apr. 11 The time seems to be right for me to go and hand over the reins to someone else to take the department forward. 1924 7 July 14/5 He would be quite ready to hand over to him and to take his seat as an ordinary member. 1958 ‘N. Shute’ vi. 229 I would hand over to him at two in the morning, Honolulu time. 1969 F. Mowat (1976) ii. 16 When Wilbur offered to take a trick, assuring me that there was not a vessel built he could not steer, I gladly handed over to him. 1996 J. Watts v. 151 No nobleman, then, can be blamed for hesitating as the time to hand over drew near. 2012 8 Aug. 25/3 At the end of my shift I note all ‘open’ incidents so I can hand over to the incoming duty webmaster. the mind > possession > giving > give [verb (transitive)] > hand to or put before a person 1652 G. Tooke 3 In this faire deport at length were they handed over to some of our Redemanded Netherlanders for their better disciplining. 1785 Sept. 503/2 Requesting their assistance in handing over these offenders to the civil power. 1816 48 173 You may as well hand me over the money. 1855 W. M. Thackeray II. xvii. 168 Poor Lady Clara! I fancy a better lot for you than that to which fate handed you over. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ viii. 130 The money is in Spanish bonds..it can be handed over to you with the stroke of a pen. 1936 M. R. Anand iv. 273 ‘Well, here's to it!’ said Jimmie, handing over a tumbler half-full of neat whisky to Mr Little. 2007 19 Nov. 67/1 The men came forward politely and handed over their identification cards. 1985 Sept. 26/3 As the vehicle moves from one cell and into another a computer-controlled system hands over the call to the next cell. 1995 (Nexis) 28 Mar. The modem hands over the call to the fax software. 2007 (Nexis) 2 Oct. Both access points are called Wireless@SG and your laptop..hands over the Net traffic from one access point to another. the world > food and drink > food > serving food > [verb (transitive)] 1692 E. Walker tr. Epictetus xx. 25 As when some Novelty Is handed round the Table; if 'tis nigh Stretch forth your hand. 1700 D. Defoe 55 In Eternal Dances hand it round: Your early Offerings to this Altar bring. ?1785 (ed. 7) 64 The watch is handed round the company. 1821 Mar. 614/1 The MS. poems handed round insufferably bad. 1844 ‘J. Slick’ II. 250 The niggers..dodged about, fillin plates and a handin em round. 1910 E. B. D'Auvergne (1911) viii. 208 While his servant was handing round the money, one of the captains drew his sword upon him. 1945 M. Allingham i. 11 I'm going to 'and round at the reception. 1997 C. Carson (1998) 77 Tea is handed round in cupfuls chinking on their saucers. 1655 (single sheet) Every Land-holder..ought to hold his Lands, of some Superiour or other till it be handed up to the chief Magistrate as Lord Paramont. 1713 89 That Bill..[was] handed up to the Lords with such Additions as were adjudged invasive of their Rights and Privileges. 1777 Aug. 375/2 At last on a cover of a letter the text was transcribed..and so handed up to the King and Royal Family. 1811 30 Nov. 702 Mr. Byrne..enquired whether the indictment on which the traversers were tried, was handed up to the Jury. 1894 1 258 Each bank hands up to the manager of the Clearing House a statement showing the total amount of the packages of checks it has brought that morning. 1950 20 May 40/3 He expects the..Committee to hand up its long-awaited report on color TV next month. 2012 17 Aug. A grand jury handed up the 31-count indictment on Monday. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022). <  n.eOE v.c1440 |
