underhandadj.n.
/ˌʌndəˈhand/, /ˈʌndəhand/, U.S. /ˈəndərˌ(h)ænd/ A. adj. (In predicative use often underˈhand.)
1. † a. Archery. Used in shooting ‘under hand’. (Cf. underhand adv. 2a.)
ΚΠ
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 14 Thus the vnderhande [shaft] must haue a small breste, to go cleane awaye oute of the bowe.
b. Made with the hands kept below the level of the body.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > movement in or on water > [adjective] > swimming > specific stroke
underhand1705
hand over hand1849
overhand1876
overarm1887
under-arm1905
butterfly1934
1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea ix. 129 Paddling the Water with an under-hand stroke.
c. Cricket. Of bowling: Performed with the hand held under the ball and lower than the shoulder or (formerly) the elbow. (Cf. under-arm adj. 1 and underhand adv. 2d.)
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [adjective] > manner of bowling
straight-arm1807
straight-armed1827
round-arm1835
round hand1847
underhand1850
round-armed1854
wristy1867
fast-medium1873
under-arm1877
quick1899
windmill1900
body line1932
1850 ‘Bat’ Cricketer's Man. (rev. ed.) 33 By the underhand method of bowling, the ball..went directly to the wicket.
1867 Lillywhite's Cricketers' Comp. 8 Underhand bowling is almost extinct.
1905 F. Sugg's Cricket Annual 47 It is very essential that he should cultivate the under-hand throw.
d. Using underhand bowling.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricketer > [adjective] > types of bowler
straight-armed1827
round1831
round-arm1835
lobbing1840
underhand1848
skimming1851
right arm1877
fastish1884
quick1922
quickish1939
off-spinning1955
stock bowling1976
1848 W. N. Hutchinson Dog Breaking ii. 13 Similar to the swing of an under-hand bowler at cricket.
1851 F. Lillywhite Guide to Cricketers (ed. 4) 68 He is a capital under-hand bowler and a dangerous bat.
2.
a. Secret, clandestine, surreptitious. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > [adjective] > accomplished by stealth
stolenc1400
secret1548
clandestine1566
stealed1577
backdoor1581
underhand1592
surreptitial1602
surreptitious?1615
furtive1628
surreptious1630
by1633
surreptive1633
subreptitious1641
surreptitious1645
postern1648
backstairs1663
smuggled1707
underneath1747
underhanded1806
hidlingsa1810
hole-and-corner1835
side door1862
under-cover1933
under the table1938
crafty1946
society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [adjective] > underhand or sneaky > specifically of actions, etc.
underhand1592
sneaky1861
1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. I v All vnder-hand cloaking of bad actions with Common-wealth pretences.
1621 H. Elsynge Notes Deb. House of Lords (1870) App. 149 It was ordered..that..the sollicitor should goe with the officer, whoe had the warrant, and showlld searche all underhand workers' howsses.
1649 in E. Nicholas Papers (1886) I. 139 The former endeavouring by underhand treaties to undermyne him.
1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. ii. §59. 471/1 Manuel..was an underhand enemy to the Western Christians, and an open enemy to the Turks.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 550. ¶1 Several indirect and underhand Practices.
1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward I. i. 15 These turbulent cities..never failed to find under-hand countenance at the Court of Louis.
1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1877) II. ix. 366 Their influence must have been exercised in a purely underhand way.
1892 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Wrecker x. 152 A new element of the uncertain, the underhand, perhaps even the dangerous.
b. Of persons: Not straightforward.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > crookedness > [adjective]
crooked?c1225
sinister?1455
indirect1570
undirect1594
involved1612
obliquous1614
unstraight1650
back-handed1800
tortuous1801
twistical1805
louche1819
hooky-crooky1833
underhand1842
twisty1857
underhanded1864
bent1914
society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [adjective] > underhand or sneaky
subornate1548
sneaking1582
sinistral1598
sinistruous1601
left-sided1607
left-handed1615
meeching1616
leer1631
backstabbing1803
sneaky1834
underhand1842
sneakish1864
underhanded1864
low-down1905
1842 J. H. Newman Lett. & Corr. (1891) II. 393 I am often accused of being underhand and uncandid.
1858 E. Bulwer-Lytton What will he do with It? i. xvi You could not mean to be sly and underhand.
3. Not open or obvious; unobtrusive; quiet.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > privacy > [adjective]
sundereOE
privyc1300
close1393
private1472
soleinc1475
secret1528
retired1595
implicit1610
cabinet1611
underhanda1616
closet1639
umbratile1640
closeteda1649
curtain1661
recluse1673
snug1710
pocket1804
entre nous1806
underground1820
sub rosa1824
esoterical1850
esoteric1876
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. i. 132 I had my selfe notice of my Brothers purpose heerein, and haue by vnder-hand meanes laboured to disswade him from it.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso (1674) i. xxxviii. 50 By this handsom under-hand dealing, I have reduced the formerly ruinous..State..into the condition that now it is.
1824 S. E. Ferrier Inheritance I. xxiv. 267 For, as she observed, in an underhand way, there was no disputing with a man who held the key of the post-bag.
1856 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters IV. 66 The most subtle moves of a game of chess,..which are, in dim, underhand, wonderful way, bringing out their foreseen and inevitable result.
4. Held in, manipulated by, the hand.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or control > [adjective] > used or controlled > used or controlled by hand
handlya1400
manual1583
underhand1706
1706 E. Baynard in J. Floyer Anc. Ψυχρολουσια Revived (rev. ed.) ii. 87 He went..with Crutches, and was in six or eight times Bathing so much reliev'd, as to walk with an underhand Stick.
1786 J. Abercrombie Gardeners Daily Assistant 136 Ridge out melons in under~hand glasses.
5. Mining. Worked from above downwards.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > mining > [adjective] > method of mining
open cut1869
underhand1877
open-pit1892
opencast1896
shortwall1912
1877 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 226 Fifteen men were engaged in underhand stoping from the top of winze No. 3.
B. n.
1. An underhand ball; underhand bowling.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [noun] > a ball bowled > types of delivery or ball
full toss1826
long hop1830
twister1832
bail ball1833
bailer1833
grubber1837
slow ball1838
wide1838
ground ball1839
shooter1843
slower ball1846
twiddler1847
creeper1848
lob1851
sneak1851
sneaker1851
slow1854
bumper1855
teaser1856
daisy-cutter1857
popper1857
yorker1861
sharpshooter1863
headball1866
screwball1866
underhand1866
skimmerc1868
grub1870
ramrod1870
raymonder1870
round-armer1871
grass cutter1876
short pitch1877
leg break1878
lob ball1880
off-break1883
donkey-drop1888
tice1888
fast break1889
leg-breaker1892
kicker1894
spinner1895
wrong 'un1897
googly1903
fizzer1904
dolly1906
short ball1911
wrong 'un1911
bosie1912
bouncer1913
flyer1913
percher1913
finger-spinner1920
inswinger1920
outswinger1920
swinger1920
off-spinner1924
away swinger1925
Chinaman1929
overspinner1930
tweaker1938
riser1944
leg-cutter1949
seamer1952
leggy1954
off-cutter1955
squatter1955
flipper1959
lifter1959
cutter1960
beamer1961
loosener1962
doosra1999
1866 J. S. Le Fanu All in Dark I. xxxiii. 282 He handles the willow pretty well, and would treat you to a tolerably straight, well pitched slow underhand.
1885 H. Finch-Hatton Advance Australia! 338 All display a precocious talent for round-hand bowling, very different to the sneaking underhand affected by the uneducated youth of Great Britain.
2. A position of inferiority.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > [noun] > state of being at a disadvantage
underhand1886
one-downness1952
one-downmanship1961
1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xii. 103 I paid the less attention to this, for I knew it was usually said by those who have the underhand.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
underhandadv.
/ˌʌndəˈhand/, U.S. /ˈəndərˌ(h)ænd/ a. In (or into) subjection; under rule or command. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > [adverb] > in subjection
underhanda1000
underfootc1175
undera1400
under hatchesc1400
at underc1425
subordinate1617
society > authority > subjection > in or into subjection [phrase] > under control
to (one's) handOE
underhanda1000
under subordination1749
in hand1761
a1000 in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws Eng. (1840) II. 218 (note) Æghwæðer ga bisceope underhand.
OE Daniel 71 Gelæddon eac on langne sið Israela cyn, on eastwegas to Babilonia, beorna unrim, under hand hæleð hæðenum deman.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7057 Labdon þan had þam vnder-hand, Was ouerman aght yeir lastand.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6442 Þis ilk folk was vntelland, þat moyses had vnder hand.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > [adverb] > in possession
underhanda1200
within1573
a1200 in Kemble Codex Dipl. (1846) IV. 268 Ðat lond ðat Berric hauede under hande.
c1200 in Thorpe Dipl. Angl. Sax. (1865) 581 Alle þinge þe hi under honde habben buten þat lond.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2984 Þo he adde þe luþer king agag vnder honde, He let him hewe to peces.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > a proceeding > [adverb]
upc1290
underhandc1400
adoing1429
under way1788
c1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 3478 This batayl wil he undertake, And he haves yit in other land Ful felle dedes underhand.
1693 tr. J. Le Clerc Mem. Count Teckely iv. 26 Which made the People have a suspicion that there was a Design under hand, but it could not be discovered.
a. Archery. (Meaning uncertain.) Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
?15.. Robin Hoode & Qu. Kath. xxix. (Percy MS.) Loxly puld forth a broad arrowe, He shott it vnder hand.
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 13v Those [shafts] that be lytle brested and big toward the hede..be fit for them whiche shote vnder hande.
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 41v A byg brested shafte [is bad] for hym that shoteth vnder hande..: a litle brested shafte for him yt shoteth aboue ye hande.
b. (See quot. 1834.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > obsequies > [adverb] > manner of bearing coffin
underhand1721
1721 S. Sewall Diary 18 Nov. (1973) II. 984 Went to the Funeral... The Sight was awfull to see the Father, and then the daughter underhand by four.
1834 A. E. Bray Warleigh II. ix. 188 The coffin..was borne ‘underhand’, as it is called in Devonshire; that is, carried by bearers, who supported it not on their shoulders, but by napkins passed through the coffin-rings.
c. (See quot.)
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printing machine or press > [adverb] > under or upper hand
underhand1770
1770 P. Luckombe Conc. Hist. Printing 502 The Light and Easy, or Heavy and Hard Running in of the Carriage. Thus.., the Press goes light and easy under Hand, or it goes heavy or hard under Hand.
1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 149 Underhand, a term used by pressmen in relation to the easy or hard running-in of the carriage under the platen.
d. With the hand held below; spec. in Cricket (see underhand adj. 1c).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [adverb] > manner of bowling
underhanded1816
underhand1828
round1859
round the wicket1867
overarm1897
square on1963
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > [adverb] > with the hand over or under the object held
above-hand1581
overhand1598
overhanded1849
underhand1885
1828 in Box Cricket (1868) 77 The ball must be bowled..and delivered underhand with the hand below the elbow.
1885 Graphic 14 Feb. 166/1 He..drew out a pair of steel handcuffs, which he..threw up and caught underhand in the air.
3. In a secret, covert, or stealthy manner; by secret means; quietly or unobtrusively.Common from c1580; formerly often written as two words (β), or with hyphen (γ).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > [adverb]
softlyc1225
by stalea1240
privilya1250
slylyc1275
thieflyc1290
stealingly13..
by stealth1390
stalworthlya1400
theftfullyc1400
theftlyc1400
theftuouslyc1400
under veilc1425
thievishly?c1450
by theft1488
quietly1488
furtively1490
by surreption1526
hugger-muggera1529
in hugger-mugger1529
underhand1538
insidiously1545
creepingly1548
surreptiously1573
underboard1582
filchingly1583
sneakingly1598
underwater1600
slipperily1603
thief-likea1625
clandestinely1632
surreptitiously1643
thievously1658
clancularly1699
stownlins1786
stealthily1806
underhandedly1806
stolen-wise1813
on (upon, under, or by) the sly1818
round-the-corner1820
underhanded1823
stealthfully1828
slinkingly1830
slippingly1830
on the sneak?1863
sneakishly1867
behind backs1874
stalkingly1891
on the side1893
under the counter1926
underground1935
under the table1938
down and dirty1959
sneakily1966
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > competitive shooting > archery > [adverb] > manner of shooting
underhand1538
overhand1875
α.
β. 1538 [see α. ]. ?1560 T. Norton Orations of Arsanes sig. Miii Our owne politike & worldly wise subiectes & frendes, which are the greatest numbers, flee daily from vs, make their peace vnder hand with our aduersaries, and still ripen the mischiefes till our state fall rotten to ruine.1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 305/1 The same Stigand was an helper vnder hande for King William to atteyne the Crowne.1611 C. Tourneur Atheist's Trag. (new ed.) iii. sig. G4 He does it vnder hand, out of a reseru'd disposition to doe thee good without ostentation.1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures x. 31 He..used the interposure of a Man born in the country, who under hand went to the fishermen.1726 tr. J. Cavalier Mem. Wars Cevennes i. 103 Commonly we liv'd by the Assistance of our Friends, who under Hand supplied us in our Marches, with Bread and other Necessaries.γ. 1583 R. Bowes & W. Davison in R. Bowes Corr. (1842) 336 He laboureth under-hand to work a peace between the duke and Gowrie.1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 221 Meane time he under-hand advertises Appollinaire to go always well accompanied.1683 London Gaz. No. 1807/3 They begin very much to suspect that..he does under-hand encourage the Turks to the War.1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea xix. 362 These Gentlemen..agree under-hand with those who sell the Slaves.1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea iv. 49 Selling this Liquor by their Emissaries under-hand.1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. iii. 148 In appearance to acquiesce in this resolution, whilst he endeavoured under-hand to give it all the obstruction he could.1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor vii, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. II. 138 That friend..was labouring hard under-hand to consolidate a band of patriots.1860 D. F. Campbell tr. A. Thiers Hist. Consulate & Empire France XVII. li. 73 Under-hand, they insinuated to the Grisons..that they ought to rise and overturn the Diet.1538 T. Elyot Dict. Suppilo,..to steale vnderhand [1545 vnder hande] or craftily.
1582 W. Allen tr. E. Campion Let. in Briefe Hist. Glorious Martyrdom sig. e5v Neither can I tel who altered his determination, sauing God to whom vnderhand I then humbly praied.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 215 The rest being put to the sword, saue those that were vnderhand saued by the Sidonians.
1654 T. Gataker Disc. Apol. 44 Being underhand backed and fed with money by two Tenants.
1684 W. Hedges Diary 2 July (1887) I. 148 He told me that Mr. Richard Frenchfeild was, underhand, a great favorer of ye Interlopers.
1733 D. Neal Hist. Puritans II. 605 His Majesty was underhand preparing for war.
1792 E. Burke Corr. (1844) III. 375 I should not be surprised if he did all he could, underhand, to lessen you in the opinion..of those who employ you.
1814 W. Scott Waverley III. xvi. 242 Baillie Macwheeble supplied Janet underhand with meal for their maintenance. View more context for this quotation
1894 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Ebb-tide vii Approaching that island underhand like eaves~droppers and thieves.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > monetary value > [adverb] > below proper or usual value
underfoot1576
under value1608
underhand1617
at a discount1792
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 55 If he bring his Horse thither, those that are to buy him, are such crafty knaues,..as he shall be forced to sell his Horse vnder hand.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1545adv.a1000