right handn.adj.
/ˌrʌɪt ˈhand/, U.S. /ˌraɪt ˈhænd/, /ˈraɪdænd/ A. n.
1. † b. Used metonymically: friendship, alliance. Frequently in plural. Obsolete.
a. The hand on the right side of the body, which in the majority of people is stronger and characterized by better coordination than the left; (hence) the hand regarded in many cultures as the better or more valuable of the two, and as such used in symbolic transactions, practices, etc.Cf. right hand of fellowship at fellowship n. Phrases 2. Cf. left hand n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > extremities > hand > [noun] > right hand
right handOE
destera1300
right halfc1350
right sidea1382
sword-hand1531
wand-hand1637
pistol hand1702
spear-hand1728
thumb-hand1750
whip hand1806
dexter1814
OE tr. Gospel of Nicodemus (Cambr.) xv. §6. 191 Se hælend þa be þære ryht handa me genam and me utlædde to Arimathia.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1125 Se king Henri..bebead þet man scolde beniman ealla þa minetere þe wæron on Englelande heora liman, þet wæs here elces riht hand & heora stanen beneðan.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 8181 Þe bære wass bileȝȝd Wiþþ bætenn gold..& himm wass sett inn hiss rihht hannd An dere kineȝerrde.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9970 Arður heold up his riht [c1300 Otho rih] hond ænne að he þer swor.
c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) l. 363 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 11 (MED) His riȝt hond he liet of-smite.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 50v Dextera, þe riȝt hond, haþ þat name of dare, to ȝeue; for ysidir seiþ surete of pes is I-ȝeue wiþ þe riȝt hond.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 1618 Be his right hand he suar his ath.
c1480 (a1400) St. Agnes 37 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 347 My luffar..my richt hand..has ennornyt with schenand stanis.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Tobit vii. 13 So he toke the righthande of his daughter, and gaue her in to the right hande of Tobias.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV 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.
1656 A. Cowley Davideis i. 4 in Poems I Sing the Man who Judahs Scepter bore In that right hand which held the Crook before.
1670 C. Gataker in T. Gataker Antidote Errour To Rdr. sig. B2v Whom I desire to receive with the right hand, that which is offered with the right hand.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones III. vii. xiv. 124 In the right Hand he carried a Sword, and in the left a Candle. View more context for this quotation
1781 W. Cowper Anti-Thelypthora 169 To horse! he cried, or by this good right hand..I smite you.
1819 B. Emerson in L. Beecher Design, Rights, & Duties Local Churches 52 Receive this right hand as a token of ministerial fellowship.
1832 D. Tyerman & G. Bennet Jrnl. Voy. & Trav. (rev. ed.) I. ix. 147 The bridegroom was then directed to take the bride's right hand in his own, and answer the question. ‘Wilt thou take this woman to be thy wife?’
1859 A. G. Mackey Lexicon Freemasonry (ed. 5) 408 Since the introduction of Christianity, the use of the right hand, in contracting an oath, has been continued, but instead of extending it to heaven..it is now directed to be placed upon the Holy Scriptures.
1879 R. Browning Halbert & Hob 4 Right-hand with left-hand linked,—He faced his son submissive.
1913 J. Neil Everyday Life in Holy Land 83 All carving and eating must be done with the right hand. To use the left hand in this way is as grave a breach of etiquette as to show the sole of the foot.
1972 G. M. Brown Greenvoe (1976) iii. 72 I would give my right hand for a dressing-gown like this.
1997 K. O'Riordan Boy in Moon iv. 71 His right hand dextrously clicked the beads [of the rosary] forward one at a time.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [noun] > symbol of friendship
right handc1384
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Macc. xi. 62 Men of Gaza preyeden Jonathas, and he ȝaue to hem riȝt hond [L. dextram], or pees.
1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. i. 31 The Lingones..had sent giftes to the Legions, Right-hands [L. dextras] in token of mutual loue.
1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales ii. xiv. 53 Calling to minde their friendship..with the Romans, and desiring that they might renew right hands [L. cupere novari dextras].
c. A person who is particularly useful or important to another, or upon whom another relies; a chief assistant, an indispensable helper.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > [noun] > that which or one who helps or means of help > a helper > indispensable
arma1382
right hand1538
right arm1562
left-hand man1711
right-hand man1739
1538 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) III. ii. 32 OConnour..who hath maried thErle of Kildares doghter, is his right hand.
1581 G. Ellyot (title) A very true Report of the apprehension..of that arch-Papist Edmund Campion, the Pope his right hand.
1615 J. Stephens Ess. & Characters (new ed.) 329 A Lawyers simple Clarke Is his Masters right hand, if hee bee not left-handed.
1665 S. Pepys Diary 22 July (1972) VI. 165 It is strange to see how poor..Backewell is like to be put to it in his absence—Mr. Shaw his right-hand being ill.
1713 R. Steele Guardian No. 5. ⁋4 For Mrs. Jane is the Right-hand of her Mother.
1765 W. Welldon (title) The smith's right hand, or a complete guide to the various branches of all sorts of iron work.
1846 G. Grote Hist. Greece I. i. i. 79 [Hêphaestos] is indispensable as the right-hand and instrument of the gods.
1895 J. Conrad Almayer's Folly i. 11 Mr. Vinck, the cashier..the right hand of the master.
1939 F. Thompson Lark Rise v. 80 She became her father's right hand.
1997 Times 5 Mar. 39/2 (advt.) You will be the right hand to the Chief Executive, which will involve taking dictation, arranging meetings, [etc.].
2. The region on the right side of a person or thing; the direction in which this side faces; = right n. 16a.Recorded earliest in to sit on (also at) a person's right hand at Phrases 1a.
ΘΚΠ
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 > the right
right sidea1225
rightc1225
right handc1225
right halfa1450
the far side1607
dexter1814
c1225 Nicene Creed (Junius) in Anglia (1928) 52 5 (MED) He asteih to heouene, & he sit æ riht hond his fæder.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 14734 Heo iseȝen an heore riht hond a swiþe fæier æit-lond.
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 31 (MED) He byt vs..on ys ryht hond hente rowe, wyþ ryhtwyse men to aryse.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 2041 Vp on the right hand wente olde Egeus And on that oother syde duc Theseus.
a1450 (?1409) St. Patrick's Purgatory (Royal) 59 (MED) Fast by þow shalt fynde ii waies, on on thi righond, a nother on þi leftehonde.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 30 He..stirred his horse here and there on the ryght honde and on the lyffte honde.
a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 110 (MED) Þou dwellist amonge enemyes; þou are impugned on þe riȝt honde & on þe lifte honde.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxv He left the right way toward Pomfret,..and toke the way on the right hand.
c1593 in J. Raine Descr. Anc. Monuments Church of Durham (1842) 75 On the right hand, as yow goe out of the Cloysters into the Infirmary was the Commone House.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. ii. 37 Turne vp on your right hand at the next turning. View more context for this quotation
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 16 The Hall for Audience is on the right hand of the Court.
1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 113 They might continue as far to the right Hand, and to the left as far.
1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy V. iii. 30 Ægina was behind me, Megara was before, Pyræus on the right hand, Corinth on the left.
1837 G. Phillips Elem. Syriac Gram. 1 The Syrians in common with many other Eastern nations, read from the right-hand to the left.
1880 Harper's Mag. Jan. 224/2 On the right hand stands a row of trees, shading some gay flower beds and bits of grass-plat.
1920 D. H. Lawrence Women in Love xxiii. 346 Ursula recognised on her right hand, below in the hollow, the form of Southwell Minster.
1950 Times 11 July 4/7 To-day the King on the right hand and the Queen on the left walked together..in procession behind the sixty-seventh Bishop of Exeter.
2001 I. Sinclair Landor's Tower (2002) ii. vii. 245 Bob..was escorted to the seat of honour at the King's right hand.
B. adj. (attributive).
1. With reference to the right hand regarded as the stronger or better of the two.
a. Of a person: of great importance or value to another; favoured, preferred; esp. serving as an indispensable helper or assistant to another (chiefly attested in right-hand man n. (b) at Compounds).In quot. ?c1225 in the context of discussion of the etymology of the biblical personal name Benjamin; compare similarly quot. 1575 at right-sided adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adjective] > of high or great importance
worthlyeOE
mickleeOE
greatc1225
right hand?c1225
solemna1387
materialc1475
superior1526
grand1542
weighty1558
main1581
pregnant1591
pregnate1598
materious1611
moliminous1642
momentous1656
magic1696
all-important1748
big1748
eventful1756
colossal1775
bread and butter1822
bada1825
key1832
all-absorbing1834
earth-moving?1834
earth-shaking1835
earth-shatteringa1859
high-ranking1874
beaucoup1917
major league1951
earth-stopping1956
crucial1957
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 223 Iudas..is schrift..þis gastliche iudas bi ȝet of iacob his fader þet is of ure lauerd to beon his richthondes sune [a1400 Pepys riȝth honde sone]. & brucken buten ende þe eritage of heouene.
1795 T. Wilkinson Wandering Patentee III. 12 About the said time I was to lose our favourite Mr. Fawcett, also my right-hand lady, Mrs. Fawcett.
1859 Harper's Mag. July 179/1 My boy's nurse was my right hand woman for superintending the sending up of a dinner.
1908 J. Gunn We of Never-never vii. 76 He was about to go to ‘see to things’, taking Bertie, his right-hand boy, with him.
1982 P. Bowler Superior Person's Bk. of Words (1985) 46 Villains have henchmen; heroes have right-hand men—or, more properly, right-hand people.
2002 R. Simmons Odd Girl Out ii, 49 I wanted to be her second, you know. I wanted to be her right-hand girl.
b. Of an action or thing: favoured, commendable; worthy, sincere. Cf. right-handed adj. 2. Now rare. right-hand error n. an error arising from commendable motives or instincts, or having positive or redeeming features; cf. an error on (also of) the right hand at Phrases 3.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [adjective] > on the right side
an error on (also of) the right handa1591
right-handed1616
right hand1631
1631 F. Quarles Hist. Samson xxiii. 141 Lives he in Wealth?.. It is a right hand blessing.
1656 H. L'Estrange Observator Observed 17 I wish all men would indulge him a favourable construction of that his right-hand Error.
1675 T. Brooks Golden Key 58 I desire nothing more..than that God would pull out right-eye sins, and cut off right-hand sins.
1773 J. Wesley Let. 10 Sept. (1931) VI. 40 Keep to the plain, old Methodist doctrine laid down in the Minutes of the Conference. At Trevecca you were a little warped from this; but it was a right-hand error.
1785 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) XIII. 95 Miss Cooke leans to the right-hand error—It is safer to think too little than too much of yourself.
1805 R. Southey Madoc i. xi. 115 The Prince..stretched to Caradoc the right-hand pledge.
1888 A. Murray Holy in Christ x. 89 That we may be kept from the right-hand error of counting separation alone as holiness, as well as the left-hand error of seeking holiness without separation.
1903 Expos. Bible I. xxxi. 111/1 The son..who is commended to God continually to receive His right-hand blessing, this son seems neither to receive nor to dispense much blessing; but the younger, less thought of..is favoured by God.
1911 Friend Dec. 116/1 I am one who believes that some Friends in times past have fallen into what we might call [the] right-hand error of putting so much emphasis on the outward appearance as to make it seem to be considered ahead of the inward character.
2. That is on or towards the right. Frequently in right-hand side.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > quality of having sides or being a side > [adjective] > situated at the side > right
right1489
dexter1562
right hand1587
dexterous1646
dextral1646
offward1710
right-sided1829
1587 F. Clement Petie Schole sig. Diiijv The letter following in the same worde: except them, which haue their last, or righthande part tourned toward the left.
1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. i. sig. A2v Three waies there were, that on the right hand side, Was ready way vnto the foresaid fields.
a1600 Floddan Field (1664) v. 46 In Right-hand wing did warlike wend.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 633 Som times He scours the right hand coast. View more context for this quotation
1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad ii. 33 [It] struck the right-hand courser to the ground.
1791 W. Bartram Trav. N. & S. Carolina 76 On the right hand side was the Orangery.
1887 H. R. Haggard Allan Quatermain ii. 33 I made out several dark heads gliding away towards the right-hand bank.
1948 Library 3 158 The right-hand margins of II are almost perfectly regular.
1963 J. D. Salinger Raise High Roof Beam (1971) 30 The Lieutenant..from the right-hand pocket of his officer's pinks had taken out a package of cigarettes.
2004 J. Fellowes Snobs (2005) vi. 84 St Margaret's custom of keeping an empty pew for the Speaker on the right-hand side of the aisle.
3. Designed for the right hand; (also) performed with the right hand.
ΚΠ
1884 Harper's Mag. Dec. 114/2 She started from home with two right-hand gloves.
1898 Music Dec. 236 The right hand part was so prominent that the busy work of the left hand was left unnoticed; later, he [sc. Chopin] rewrote the study, taking the same matter for the right hand, but at a somewhat slower tempo.
1916 Bookman Oct. 118/1 It was a soft-eyed little French girl..who bethought her of cutting a hole in right-hand mittens just large enough to give access to a soldier's trigger finger.
1990 Gramophone May 2012/1 Maybe the right-hand arpeggio accompaniment in the middle of the movement does tend towards cliché.
Phrases
P1. † b. to take the right hand of: to take precedence over. Also: to have (also give) the right hand: to enjoy (or accord to a person) a position of honour. Cf. to take the right-hand file at file n.2 7b. Obsolete.
a. to sit on (also at) a person's right hand and variants: to sit to the immediate right of a host, a position traditionally accorded to the guest of honour, or to the person next after the host in rank or authority; (hence) to occupy a position of particular favour or privilege. Cf. right-hand man n. (b) at Compounds.Originally in or with direct allusion to Biblical passages, esp. Hebrews 1:3 and 1 Peter 3:22, and to the Creed in the Christian liturgy.
ΚΠ
c1225Riht hond [see sense A. 2].
a1250 Lofsong Louerde in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. Minor Creed 217 Þer he sit o godes rithond feder al-mihti.
a1333 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 22 (MED) Þou sist in godes ryth hond in þy uaderes blisse.
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 1612/2 Christ shall sit..at the right hand of God, vnto the consumption of the world.
1653 Ld. Vaux tr. A. Godeau Life St. Paul 310 Jesus Christ having once offered the Host of His body, is seated at the right hand of God.
1716 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 14 Sept. (1965) I. 266 She order'd me a seat at her right hand.
1762 T. Smollett Adventures Sir Launcelot Greaves I. xii. 251 That wretched low-bred woman, who now sits at your right hand as associate of power and presumption.
1809 Visct. Valentia Voy. I. 100 He led me to a small couch close to the purdah, and seated me on his right hand..between his mother and himself.
1856 J. Banks tr. Callimachus Hymn to Apollo in Wks. Hesiod, Callimachus, & Theognis 128 Apollo will honour the choir, because it sings to his taste; for he is able, seeing that he sits at Jove's right hand.
1940 Trans. & Proc. Amer. Philol. Assoc. 71 334 In Salutati's phrontistery Gorgias sits at the right hand of Socrates.
1977 N.Y. Mag. 19 Sept. 118/1 Hamilton Jordan, who sits at Carter's right hand, ordered delivered up to his office a list of any and all federally funded programs.
2001 P. Gregory Other Boleyn Girl (2007) 189 There was no question now of who sat at the right hand of the king... She [sc. the queen] did not flaunt her return to favor.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > honour > [noun] > precedence
right sidea1325
fordeal1513
precedence1598
precedency1601
to take the right hand of1607
pas1707
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > honour > give honour to [verb (transitive)] > take precedence of
precede1485
to take the right hand of1607
1607 R. Parker Scholasticall Disc. against Antichrist i. ii. 76 As if a seruant should..take the right hand of him, because of old that was the inferious place.
1641 H. Drewrey Vindic. of Seperate Brethern of Spirit 6 The Jesuits are the onely Roman Puritans, that our singularities ought to take the right hand of theirs.
1652 Seasonable Expostulation with Netherlands 9 If..the time..be made Umpier of Precedency, Geneva must take the right hand of You.
1682 News from France 2 It is true, the Precedence was then granted to the Bishops of Rome,..and the Empire carrying its name from Rome, no wonder if the Bishop..had the Right-hand still reserved to him.
1704 N. N. tr. T. Boccalini Advts. from Parnassus I. 188 The Scotch Nobility..said 'twas a very hard Case, that a poor Scholar..should afterwards by Virtue of a Bishoprick..not only assume as good a Title as his Master, but even pretend, upon some Occasions, to take the Right-hand of him.
1710 London Gaz. No. 4784/1 On Condition that he should give the Right Hand to the Marquis de Prié in his own House.
P2. the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing and variants: see left hand n. and adj. Phrases 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [adjective] > on the right side
an error on (also of) the right handa1591
right-handed1616
right hand1631
a1591 H. Smith Fruitful Serm. 42 For Salomon saith, There is an errour vppon the right hande as well as vpon the left, that is, as I may call it: The zealous errour.
1656 H. Stubbe Let. 7 Oct. in T. Hobbes Corr. (1994) I. 311 I hope you can pardon offences of ye right hand, & dispense with insolencyes which proceed from an excesse of respect.
1691 J. Dunton Voy. round World III. i. sig. B2 I humbly conceive it is an Error on the right-hand, wherein I am but better than my Word.
1693 J. Dryden tr. Persius Satires vi. Argt. 76 One Error, though on the right hand, yet a great one, is, That they are no Helps to a Virtuous Life.
1722 D. Defoe Moll Flanders 207 It was an Error of the right Hand if it was an Error, for by this she kept up the Reputation..of her Business.
1756 S. Pike & S. Hayward Some Important Cases Conscience Answered II. viii. 8 If Persons are inclined seriously and conscientiously to take the whole Fault upon themselves, this is an Error on the right Hand.
Compounds
right-hand drive n. (a) a steering system of the type found in motor vehicles designed to be driven on the left side of the road, in which the steering wheel and other controls are fitted on the right side; frequently attributive; (b) a vehicle having a steering system of this type; cf. left-hand drive n. and adj. at left hand n. and adj. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > steering, suspension, or wheels > types of steering system
left-hand drive1908
right-hand drive1912
self-centring1931
power steering1932
1912 Horseless Age 21 Feb. 375/2 In right hand drive cars it [sc. the steering column] is located directly in front of the right hand front passenger.
1940 R. Chandler Farewell, my Lovely viii. 55 The car had a right-hand drive.
1965 Listener 10 June 878/2 The two latest French saloons, the Renault 16 and the Peugeot 204, did not appear at Silverstone last Wednesday because right-hand drive versions are not yet available.
1991 W. Perrie Roads that Move (BNC) 48 Anastasia has a right-hand drive.
right-hand driving n. the action, practice, or system of driving on the right side of the road (using a left-hand drive system or vehicle); cf. left-hand driving n. at left hand n. and adj. Compounds.
ΚΠ
1936 M. Kennedy Together & Apart iii. 178 ‘But don't you,’ she asked, ‘find the right-hand driving rather confusing?’ ‘I don't mind it. But in Sweden it's left-hand.’
1956 Collier's Year-bk. 670/1 Sweden is the only Scandinavian country with left-hand driving, and the desirability of changing to right-hand driving has been discussed off and on for many years.
1975 Pacific Affairs 48 411 In 1971 he had to be reminded of the problem of switching from American-style right-hand driving to Japanese left-hand driving.
2006 Daily Mail (Nexis) 20 Feb. 7 Gardai believe a number of factors has led to the high death rate, including drivers unfamiliar with right hand driving, cars of dubious quality and alcohol consumption.
right-hand lock n. a lock that turns the bolt to the right.
ΚΠ
1837 London Jrnl. Arts & Sci. 9 45 The other pin..is not to be riveted..in order to admit of the bolt being shifted to suit a right or left hand lock, as occasion may require.
1856 G. Price Treat. Fire & Thief-proof Deposit. xxi. 902 If the bolt comes out to the left it is a left-hand lock; if to the right it is a right-hand lock. This is the locksmiths' rule.
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1340/2 The right-hand and left-hand locks are for doors to swing to the right or to the left.
2005 B. Phillips Compl. Bk. Locks & Locksmithing (ed. 6) xix. 432 A left-hand lock requires a left-hand strike; a right-hand lock requires a right-hand strike.
right-hand man n. †(a) a soldier holding a position of responsibility or command on the right of a troop of horse (obsolete); (b) a person (esp. a man) who serves as chief assistant or indispensable helper to another.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by branch of army > [noun] > mounted soldier > others
jousterc1330
knight1489
rutter1506
reister1521
reiter1556
ruiter1579
hargulater1581
lancer1590
lance1602
rutar1610
dragon1620
dragoon1622
right-hand man1626
dragooner1639
leaguerer1639
deli1667
Light Dragoon1700
uhlan1753
sabre1836
parachutist1837
sabreur1845
yellow leg1857
spahi1863
horse-marine1878
uhlaner1886
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > [noun] > that which or one who helps or means of help > a helper > indispensable
arma1382
right hand1538
right arm1562
left-hand man1711
right-hand man1739
1626 G. Markham Souldiers Gram. ii. 41 Euery other File-leader (with their files) shall open after the Right Hand Man, till the Command be perfited.
1665 S. Pepys Diary 4 Dec. (1972) VI. 318 Not only..being admitted into the Duke of Albemarle's guard..but also..put as a right-hand man, and other marks of special respect.
1721 London Gaz. No. 5925/3 He..was lately a Right Hand Man in the 4th Troop of Horse-Guards.
1739 Scots Mag. Mar. 113/2 He..talks of Handel as his right-hand man, calls Pope by his Christian name, and speaks of Shakespear as a good, pretty writer, considering the times he lived in.
1796 T. Holcroft Man of Ten Thousand i. i. 2 He is the right hand man of the whole Peerage!
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas III. vii. vi. 83 I am in want of a secretary..: he shall be my right-hand man.
1825 T. Gibbons Horsemanship 24 At the command, Right file, each (except the right hand man) quarter-turn your horse to the right. Right hand man, turn your horse full to the right.
1898 W. S. Gilbert Bab Ballads 244 Why on earth good Bailey Ben (The wisest, noblest, best of men) Made Simple James his right hand man Is quite beyond my mental span.
1920 F. S. Fitzgerald This Side of Paradise i. i. 8 Indeed, Mrs. Blaine, he is still delightful company—quite the cardinal's right-hand man.
1994 B. Woodward Agenda xviii. 155 His right-hand man, policy adviser and chief economist..was at the table in his place.
right-hand rope n. rope made by twisting the strands in a clockwise direction.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > rope collective or as material > laid to the right
right-handed rope1832
right-hand rope1841
1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 34 Right-hand rope must be coiled with the sun.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Right-Hand Rope, that which is laid up and twisted with the sun, that is to the right hand.
1941 T. A. H. Peacocke Mountaineering ii. 22 Another way of distinguishing the right-hand or left-hand rope is to view it from the end. The right-hand rope has a clockwise twist and the left hand anti-clockwise.
2005 Code of Safety for Fishermen & Fishing Vessels (Internat. Maritime Organization) 108 Kinks in ropes should always be taken out by correct coiling—right-hand coiling for a right-hand rope.
right-hand rule n. Physics (a) a rule for finding the direction of the magnetic field produced by a current flowing through a wire: if the right hand is placed as if to grasp the wire, with the thumb pointing in the direction of the current, the fingers curl in the direction of the magnetic field; also called Ampère's rule, Ampère's law; (b) (more fully Fleming's right-hand rule) a rule for finding the direction of the current induced in a wire when it moves through a magnetic field: if the first finger, second finger, and thumb of the right hand are held out perpendicular to each other, with the thumb pointing in the direction of motion of the wire (m sound) and the first finger in the direction of the field (f sound), then the second finger points in the direction of the induced current; also in extended use.
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1892 Nature 17 Mar. 478/2 Dr. Fleming's well-known rule for induced currents was also a right-hand rule.
1896 W. P. Maycock Electr. Lighting & Power Distribution (ed. 3) I. iii. 63 Right-hand rule for finding the positive direction round the magnetic field of a straight conductor carrying a direct current.
1901 H. A. Foster Electr. Engineer's Pocket-bk. 236 The accompanying figure illustrates a graphic method, called Fleming's Right-hand Rule.
1929 Amer. Math. Monthly 36 442 Let R be a unit vector in the direction of r, and define other unit vectors N and P, according to the right hand rule, by the equations, N = B × T, P = B × R.
1980 Leonardo 13 183/2 The four objects were to be artistic presentations of (1) Ampére's [sic] right-hand rule for the direction of the magnetic field produced by an electric current, (2) [etc.].
2001 School Sci. Rev. Sept. 105/1 The wire is moved within the field of an Eclipse Major magnet to illustrate the application of Fleming's Right Hand Rule.
right-hand screw n. a screw threaded so that it advances when turned clockwise.
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1795 Repertory of Arts 2 93 The screw E..has one end cut with a right hand, and the other with a left hand, screw.
1810 Belfast Monthly Mag. May 378/2 The two elevating screws at one side of the endless screw, are right hand screws, and those at the other side, are left hand screws.
1917 L. Frank Essent. Mech. Drafting xi. 123 A right-hand screw would turn around to the right (clockwise) in advancing.
2001 S. Vogel Prime Mover (2003) vii. 136 All hand-operated meat grinders..have clockwise-advancing right-hand screws.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.OE