Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Hand

(hănd)

Noun.

[AS.

hand

hond

; akin to D., G., & Sw.

hand

, OHG.

hant

, Dan.

haand

, Icel.

hönd

, Goth.

handus

, and perh. to Goth.

hinþan

to seize (in comp.). Cf.

Hunt

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

Manus

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

; as:

(a)

A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey.

(b)

An index or pointer on a dial;

as, the hour or minute

hand

of a clock

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

Side; part; direction, either right or left.

On this

hand

and that

hand

, were hangings.

Ex. xxxviii. 15.

The Protestants were then on the winning

hand

Milton.

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

He had a great mind to try his

hand

at a Spectator.

Addison.

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

To change the

hand

in carrying on the war.

Clarendon.

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

hand

Judges vi. 36.

An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful;

as, a deck

hand

; a farm

hand

; an old

hand

at speaking.

A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many

hands

, as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for.

Locke.

I was always reckoned a lively

hand

at a simile.

Hazlitt.

Handwriting; style of penmanship;

as, a good, bad, or running

hand

. Hence, a signature.

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

hand

Shakespeare

Some writs require a judge's

hand

Burril.

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

“Receiving in hand one year's tribute.”

Knolles.

Albinus . . . found means to keep in his

hands

the government of Britain.

Milton.

10.

Agency in transmission from one person to another;

as, to buy at first

hand

, that is, from the producer, or when new; at second

hand

, that is, when no longer in the producer's hand, or when not new

11.

Rate; price.

[Obs.]

“Business is bought at a dear hand, where there is small dispatch.”

Bacon.

12.

That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once

; as:

(a)

(Card Playing)

The quota of cards received from the dealer.

(b)

(Tobacco Manuf.)

A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together.

13.

(Firearms)

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

☞ Hand is used figuratively for a large variety of acts or things, in the doing, or making, or use of which the hand is in some way employed or concerned; also, as a symbol to denote various qualities or conditions, as:

(a)

Activity; operation; work; – in distinction from the head, which implies thought, and the heart, which implies affection. “His hand will be against every man.”

Gen. xvi. 12.

(b)

Power; might; supremacy; – often in the Scriptures. “With a mighty hand . . . will I rule over you.”

Ezek. xx. 33.

(c)

Fraternal feeling;

as, to give, or take, the

hand

; to give the right

hand

(d)

Contract; – commonly of marriage; as, to ask the hand; to pledge the hand.

☞ Hand is often used adjectively or in compounds (with or without the hyphen), signifying performed by the hand; as, hand blow or hand-blow, hand gripe or hand-gripe: used by, or designed for, the hand; as, hand ball or handball, hand bow, hand fetter, hand grenade or hand-grenade, handgun or hand gun, handloom or hand loom, handmill or hand organ or handorgan, handsaw or hand saw, hand-weapon: measured or regulated by the hand; as, handbreadth or hand's breadth, hand gallop or hand-gallop. Most of the words in the following paragraph are written either as two words or in combination.

Hand bag

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

–

Hand basket

a small or portable basket.

–

Hand bell

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

Bacon.

–

Hand bill

a small pruning hook. See 4th

Bill

–

Hand car

See under

Car

–

Hand director

(Mus.)

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

–

Hand drop

See

Wrist drop

–

Hand gallop

See under

Gallop

–

Hand gear

(Mach.)

apparatus by means of which a machine, or parts of a machine, usually operated by other power, may be operated by hand.

–

Hand glass

(a)

A glass or small glazed frame, for the protection of plants.

(b)

A small mirror with a handle.

–

Hand guide

Same as

Hand director

(above).

–

Hand language

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

–

Hand lathe

See under

Lathe

–

Hand money

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

–

Hand organ

(Mus.)

a barrel organ, operated by a crank turned by hand.

–

Hand plant

(Bot.)

Same as

Hand tree

(below). –

Hand rail

, a rail, as in staircases, to hold by.

Gwilt.

–

Hand sail

a sail managed by the hand.

Sir W. Temple.

–

Hand screen

a small screen to be held in the hand.

–

Hand screw

a small jack for raising heavy timbers or weights

;

(Carp.)

a screw clamp.

–

Hand staff

(pl.

Hand staves

)

a javelin.

Ezek. xxxix. 9.

–

Hand stamp

a small stamp for dating, addressing, or canceling papers, envelopes, etc.

–

Hand tree

(Bot.)

a lofty tree found in Mexico (

Cheirostemon platanoides

), having red flowers whose stamens unite in the form of a hand.

–

Hand vise

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

Moxon.

–

Hand work

, or

Handwork

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

–

All hands

everybody; all parties.

–

At all hands

On all hands

on all sides; from every direction; generally.

–

At any hand

At no hand

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

“And therefore at no hand consisting with the safety and interests of humility.”

Jer. Taylor.

–

At first hand

At second hand

See def. 10 (above).

–

At hand

(a)

Near in time or place; either present and within reach, or not far distant.

“Your husband is at hand; I hear his trumpet.”

Shak.

(b)

Under the hand or bridle.

[Obs.]

“Horses hot at hand.”

Shak.

–

At the hand of

by the act of; as a gift from.

“Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?”

Job ii. 10.

–

Bridle hand

See under

Bridle

–

By hand

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

–

Clean hands

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

“He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.”

Job xvii. 9.

–

From hand to hand

from one person to another.

–

Hand in hand

(a)

In union; conjointly; unitedly.

Swift.

(b)

Just; fair; equitable.

As fair and as good, a kind of

hand in hand

comparison.

Shakespeare

–

Hand over hand

Hand over fist

by passing the hands alternately one before or above another; as, to climb hand over hand; also, rapidly; as, to come up with a chase hand over hand.

–

Hand over head

negligently; rashly; without seeing what one does.

[Obs.]

Bacon.

–

Hand running

consecutively;

as, he won ten times

hand running

–

Hands off!

keep off! forbear! no interference or meddling!

–

Hand to hand

in close union; in close fight;

as, a

hand to hand

contest

Dryden.

–

Heavy hand

severity or oppression.

–

In hand

(a)

Paid down.

“A considerable reward in hand, and . . . a far greater reward hereafter.”

Tillotson.

(b)

In preparation; taking place.

Chaucer.

“Revels . . . in hand.”

Shak.

(c)

Under consideration, or in the course of transaction;

as, he has the business

in hand

–

In one's hand

In one's hands

(a)

In one's possession or keeping.

(b)

At one's risk, or peril;

as, I took my life

in my hand

–

Laying on of hands

a form used in consecrating to office, in the rite of confirmation, and in blessing persons.

–

Light hand

gentleness; moderation.

–

Note of hand

a promissory note.

–

Off hand

Out of hand

forthwith; without delay, hesitation, or difficulty; promptly.

“She causeth them to be hanged up out of hand.”

Spenser.

–

Off one's hands

out of one's possession or care.

–

On hand

in present possession; as, he has a supply of goods on hand.

–

On one's hands

in one's possession care, or management.

–

Putting the hand under the thigh

an ancient Jewish ceremony used in swearing.

–

Right hand

the place of honor, power, and strength.

–

Slack hand

idleness; carelessness; inefficiency; sloth.

–

Strict hand

severe discipline; rigorous government.

–

To bear a hand

(Naut.)

to give help quickly; to hasten.

–

To bear in hand

to keep in expectation with false pretenses.

[Obs.]

Shak.

–

To be hand and glove with

To be hand in glove with

See under

Glove

–

To be on the mending hand

to be convalescent or improving.

–

To bring up by hand

to feed (an infant) without suckling it.

–

To change hand

See

Change

–

To change hands

to change sides, or change owners.

Hudibras.

–

To clap the hands

to express joy or applause, as by striking the palms of the hands together.

–

To come to hand

to be received; to be taken into possession; as, the letter came to hand yesterday.

–

To get hand

to gain influence.

[Obs.]

Appetites have . . .

got

such a

hand

over them.

Baxter.

–

To get one's hand in

to make a beginning in a certain work; to become accustomed to a particular business.

–

To have a hand in

to be concerned in; to have a part or concern in doing; to have an agency or be employed in.

–

To have in hand

(a)

To have in one's power or control.

Chaucer.

(b)

To be engaged upon or occupied with.

–

To have one's hands full

to have in hand all that one can do, or more than can be done conveniently; to be pressed with labor or engagements; to be surrounded with difficulties.

–

To have the (higher) upper hand

, or

To get the (higher) upper hand

to have, or get, the better of another person or thing.

–

To his hand

To my hand

, etc.

in readiness; already prepared.

“The work is made to his hands.”

Locke.

–

To hold hand

to compete successfully or on even conditions.

[Obs.]

Shak.

–

To lay hands on

to seize; to assault.

–

To lend a hand

to give assistance.

–

To lift the hand against

, or

To put forth the hand against

to attack; to oppose; to kill.

–

To live from hand to mouth

to obtain food and other necessaries as want compels, without previous provision.

–

To make one's hand

to gain advantage or profit.

–

To put the hand unto

to steal.

Ex. xxii. 8.

–

To put the last hand to

To put the finishing hand to

to make the last corrections in; to complete; to perfect.

–

To set the hand to

to engage in; to undertake.

That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou

settest thine hand to

Deut. xxiii. 20.

–

To stand one in hand

to concern or affect one.

–

To strike hands

to make a contract, or to become surety for another's debt or good behavior.

–

To take in hand

(a)

To attempt or undertake

(b)

To seize and deal with; as, he took him in hand.

–

To wash the hands of

to disclaim or renounce interest in, or responsibility for, a person or action; as, to wash one's hands of a business.

Matt. xxvii. 24.

–

Under the hand of

authenticated by the handwriting or signature of;

as, the deed is executed

under the hand

and seal

the owner

Hand

(hănd)

Verb.

[

imp. & p. p.

Handed

;

p. pr. & vb. n.

Handing

To give, pass, or transmit with the hand;

as, he

handed

them the letter

To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct;

as, to

hand

a lady into a carriage

To manage;

as, I

hand

my oar

[Obs.]

Prior.

To seize; to lay hands on.

[Obs.]

Shak.

To pledge by the hand; to handfast.

[R.]

(Naut.)

To furl; – said of a sail.

Totten.

To hand down

to transmit in succession, as from father to son, or from predecessor to successor; as, fables are handed down from age to age; to forward to the proper officer (the decision of a higher court); as, the Clerk of the Court of Appeals handed down its decision.

–

To hand over

to yield control of; to surrender; to deliver up.

Hand

Verb.

To cooperate.

[Obs.]

Massinger.

Webster 1828 Edition

Hand

HAND

Noun.

[L. hendo, in prehendo.]

In man, the extremity of the arm, consisting of the palm and fingers, connected with the arm at the wrist; the part with which we hold and use any instrument.

In falconry, the foot of a hawk; and in the manege, the fore-foot of a horse.

A measure of four inches; a palm applied chiefly to horses; as a horse 14 hands high.

Side; part; right or left; as on the one hand or the other. This is admitted on all hands, that is, on all sides, or by all parties.

Act; deed; performance; external action; that is, the effect for the cause,the hand being the instrument of action.

Thou sawest the contradiction between my heart and hand.

Power of performance; skill.

A friend of mine has a very fine hand on the violin.

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

Power of making or producing.

An intelligent being coming out of the hands of infinite perfection.

Manner of acting or performance; as, he changed his hand.

Agency; part in performing or executing. Punish every man who had a hand in the mischief. We see the hand of God in this event.

10. Conveyance; agency in transmitting.

11. Possession; power. The estate is in the hands of the owner. The papers are in my hands.

12. The cards held at a game; hence, a game.

13. That which performs the office of the hand or of a finger in pointing; as the hand of a clock; the hour hand, and the minute hand.

14. A person; an agent; a man employed in agency or service. The mason employs twenty hands.

15. Form of writing; style of penmanship; as a good hand; a bad hand; a fine hand.

16. Agency; service; ministry. Ex.4. Lev.8.

17. In Scripture, the hand of God, is his eternal purpose and executive power. Acts.4.

18. The providential bounty of God. Ps.104.

19. The power of God exerted in judgments or mercies, in punishing or defending. Judges. 2. Ps.32.

20. The spirit of God; divine influence. 1 Kings 18.

21. The favor of God, or his support. Neh.2. Luke 1.

At hand, near; either present and within reach, or not far distant.

Your husband is at hand, I hear his trumpet.

Near in time; not distant.

The day of Christ is at hand. 2 Thess.2.

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

In hand, present payment; in respect to the receiver.

Receiving in hand one year's tribute.

In a state of execution. I have a great work in hand.

At my hand, at his hand, &c., denote from the person or being.

Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? Job.2.

Of hand, in present possession; as,he has a supply of goods on hand.

Under one's care or management.

Jupiter had a farm on his hands.

Off hand, without delay, hesitation or difficulty; immediately; dexterously; without previous preparation.

Out of hand, ready payment; with regard to the payer.

Let not the wages of any man tarry with thee; but give it him out of hand.

To his hand, to my hand, &c., in readiness; already prepared; ready to be received.

The work is made to his hands.

Under his hand, under her hand, &c., with the proper writing or signature of the name.

This deed is executed under the hand and seal of the owner.

Hand over head, negligently; rashly; without seeing what one does. [Little used.]

Hand over hand, by passing the hands alternately one before or above another, as to climb hand over hand; also, rapidly, as to come up with a chase hand over hand; ;used by seamen.

Hand to hand, in close union; close fight.

But from hand to hand is from one person to another.

Hand in hand, in union; conjointly; unitedly.

To join hand in hand, is to unite efforts and act in concert.

Hand in hand, fit; pat; suitable.

Hand to mouth. To live from hand to mouth, is to obtain food and other necessaries, as want requires, without making previous provision, or having an abundant previous supply.

To bear in hand, to keep in expectation; to elude. [Not used.]

To bear a hand, to hasten; a seaman's phrase.

To be hand and glove, to be intimate and familiar, as friends or associates.

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

That the Lord thy God may bless thee, in all thou

settest thine hand to. Dest.23.

To take in hand, to attempt; to undertake. Luke 1. Also, to seize and deal with.

To have a hand in, to be concerned in; to have a part or concern in doing; to have an agency in.

To put the last hand or finishing hand to, to complete; to perfect; to make the last corrections, or give the final polish.

To change hands, to change sides; to shift.

Hand, in the sense of rate, price, terms, conditions, as used by Bacon, Taylor, &c., is obsolete; as, 'to buy at a dear hand;' 'accept the mystery, but at no hand wrest it by pride or ignorance.' So in the sense of advantage, gain, superiority, as used by Hayward; and in that of competition, content, as used by Shakespeare.

To get hand, to gain influence, is obsolete.

A heavy hand, severity or oppression.

A light hand, gentleness; moderation.

A strict hand, severe discipline; rigorous government.

Hands off, a vulgar phrase for keep off, forbear.

pour water on the hands, in the phraseology of the Scriptures, is to serve or minister to. 2 Kings 3.

To wash the hands, to profess in innocence. Matt.27.

To kiss the hand, imports adoration. Job.31.

To lean on the hand, imports familiarity. 2 Kings.5.

To strike hands, to make a contract, or to become surety for another's debt or good behavior. Prov.17.

Putting the hand under the thigh, was an ancient ceremony used in swearing.

To give the hand, is to make a covenant with one, or to unite with him in design. 2 Kings.10.

The stretching out of the hand, denotes an exertion of power. But,

The stretching out of the hand to God, imports earnest prayer or solemn dedication of one's self to him. Ps.68, and 143.

The lifting of the hand, was used in affirmation and swearing, and in prayer imported a solemn wishing of blessings from God. Gen.14. Lev.19.

To lift the hand against a superior, to rebel. 2 Sam.20.

To put forth the hand against one, to kill him. 1 Sam.24.

To put one's hand to a neighbor's goods, to steal them. Ex.22.

To lay hands on in anger, to assault or seize, or to smite. Ex.24. Is.11.

To lay the hand on the mouth, imports silence. Job.40.

The laying on of hands, was also a ceremony used in consecrating one to office. Num.27. 1 Tim.4.

It was also used in blessing persons. Mark 10.

Hiding the hand in the bosom, denotes idleness; inactivity; sluggishness. Prov.19.

The clapping of hands, denotes joy and rejoicing. But in some instances, contempt or derision, or joy at the calamities of others. Ps.47. Ezek.25.

A station at the right hand is honorable, and denotes favor, approbation or honor. A station on the left hand is less honorable. Matt.20.

's standing at the right hand of men, imports his regard for them, and his readiness to defend and assist them. Ps.16.

Satan's standing at the right hand of men, imports his readiness to accuse them, or to hinder or torment them. Zech.3.

Clean hands, denotes innocence and a blameless and holy life. Ps.24.

A slack hand, denotes idleness; carelessness; sloth. Prov.10.

The right hand, denotes power; strength. Ex.15.

HAND

Verb.

To give or transmit with the hand.

Hand me a book.

To lead, guide and lift with the hand; to conduct.

To manage; as, I hand my oar.

To seize; to lay hands on. [Not used.]

In seamanship, to furl; to wrap or roll a sail close to the yard, stay or mast, and fasten it with gaskets.

To hand down, to transmit in succession, as from father to son, or from predecessor to successor. Fables are handed down from age to age.

Definition 2024

Hand

See also: hand, HAND, händ, hånd, hand., and hånd-

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

Hank (chiefly western Ripuarian)

Noun

Hand f ‎(plural Hänn or Häng, diminutive Händche)

(many dialects) hand

Usage notes

The plural Hänn is used in Moselle Franconian and some southern dialects of Ripuarian. The form Häng is used in many Ripuarian dialects, including Kölsch.

German

Picture dictionary

Click on labels in the image

Arm

Etymology

From Old High German hant, from Proto-Germanic *handuz. Compare Dutch and English hand, West Frisian hân, Danish hånd, Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐍃 ‎(handus).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /hant/
Rhymes: -ant

Noun

Hand f ‎(genitive Hand, plural Hände, diminutive Händchen n or Händlein n)

hand
- 1931, Arthur Schnitzler, Flucht in die Finsternis, S. Fischer Verlag, page 103:
  Rette mich, murmelte er vor sich hin, unwillkürlich mit gefalteten Händen, als wäre es ein Gebet an sie.
  Save me, he mumbled to himself, involuntarily with folded hands, as if it was a prayer to her.

Declension

Declension of Hand

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	eine	die	Hand	die	Hände
genitive	einer	der	Hand	der	Hände
dative	einer	der	Hand	den	Händen
accusative	eine	die	Hand	die	Hände

Derived terms

Terms derived from Hand

abhanden kommen
alle Hände voll zu tun haben ‎(“to have one's hands full”)
aushändigen
behende
Handballen
Handball m ‎(“handball”)
Handbewegung
Handbreit
Handbremse f ‎(“handbrake”)
Handbuch n ‎(“handbook, manual”)
Händchenhalten
Händedruck m ‎(“handshake”)
händeringend
handfest

Handfläche f, Handteller m ‎(“palm (of hand)”)
Handgelenk n ‎(“wrist”)
Handgemenge n ‎(“brawl, scuffle, melee”)
Handgranate f ‎(“hand grenade”)
handgreiflich
Handgriff
Handhabe
Hand in Hand ‎(“hand in hand”)
Handkäse
Handlanger m ‎(“handyman; henchman”)
handlich
Handpuppe f ‎(“hand puppet”)
Handreichung
Handrücken

Handschelle
Handschlag m ‎(“handshake”)
Handschrift f ‎(“handwriting; manuscript”)
Handschuh m ‎(“glove; mitten; gauntlet; mitt”)
Handstand m ‎(“handstand”)
Handtasche f ‎(“handbag, purse”)
Handtuch n ‎(“towel”)
Handwerk n ‎(“labour, especially of a manual type; trade; something made by hand, handcraft”)
Handwurzel
Handy n ‎(“mobile phone, mobile, cell phone, cellular phone”)
handzahm ‎(“handtame”, adjective)
mit leeren Händen ‎(“empty-handed”)
rechte Hand f ‎(“right hand; right-hand man, right-hand woman”)
vorhanden ‎(“available, existing”)

Low German

Picture dictionary

Palm

Wrist

Dumen

Wiesfinger

Middelfinger

Ringfinger

Pink

Click on labels in the image

Arm

Etymology

From Old Saxon hand, from Proto-Germanic *handuz. Compare Dutch hand, English hand, West Frisian hân, Danish hånd, Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐍃 ‎(handus).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /hant/
Rhymes: -ant

Noun

Hand m ‎(plural Hänn or Hännen)

hand

Derived terms

Terms derived from Hand

handballen
Handball
Handbewegen
Handbook n
handbreet
handfast
Handgreep
handgrieplich

Handhaav
Handkääs
handlich
Handpupp
Handreken
Handschrift
Handslag
Handstand

Handtuch
Handwark
Handy n
hannen
Hansch m
mit leddige Hännen
rechte Hand

Luxembourgish

Etymology

From Old High German *hand, northern variant of hant, from Proto-Germanic *handuz.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /hɑnt/
Rhymes: -ɑnt

Noun

Hand f ‎(plural Hänn, diminutive Händchen)

hand

hand

See also: Hand, HAND, händ, hånd, hånd-, and hand.

English

Picture dictionary

Click on labels in the image

arm

Noun

hand ‎(plural hands)

The part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.
Her hands are really strong.‎
- 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 7, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
  I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan.
- 2012 November 17, John Branch, “Snow Fall : The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”, in New York Time:
  
  Using her hands like windshield wipers, she tried to flick snow away from her mouth. When she clawed at her chest and neck, the crumbs maddeningly slid back onto her face. She grew claustrophobic.
(heading) That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand.
1. A limb of certain animals, such as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey.
2. An index or pointer on a dial; such as the hour and minute hands on the face of an analog clock, which are used to indicate the time of day.
(heading) In linear measurement:
1. (chiefly in measuring the height of horses) Four inches, a hand's breadth.
  - 1945 May, George Orwell, chapter 1, in Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, London: Secker & Warburg, OCLC 3655473:
    
    Boxer was an enormous beast, nearly eighteen hands high, and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together.
2. (obsolete) Three inches.
A side; part, camp; direction, either right or left.
- Exodus 38:15:
  On this hand and that hand, were hangings.
- 1649, John Milton, Eikonoklastes:
  For that the Protestants were then on the winning hand, it must needs be plain; who, notwithstanding the miss of those forces, which at their landing here mastered without difficulty great part of Wales and Cheshire, yet made a shift to keep their own in Ireland.
- From a speech delivered by Bertrand Russell on accepting the 1950 Nobel Prize in Literature:
  I maintain, however, on the one hand, that there are few occasions upon which large bodies of men, such as politics is concerned with, can rise above selfishness, while, on the other hand, there are a very great many circumstances in which populations will fall below selfishness, if selfishness is interpreted as enlightened self-interest.
Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
- 1712 October 2, Joseph Addison, The Spectator, number 499:
  My friend Will Honeycomb has told me for above this half year, that he had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator, and that he would fain have one of his writing in my works.
- 1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, The Bat, chapterI:
  The Bat—they called him the Bat. […]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face.
An agent; a servant, or manual laborer, especially in compounds; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful.
an old hand at speaking; large farms need many farm hands‎
- 1690, John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding:
  But a Dictionary of this sort, containing, as it were, a Natural History, requires too many Hands, as well as too much Time, Cost, Pains and Sagacity, ever to be hoped for; and till that be done, we must content ourselves with such Definitions of the Names of Substances, as explain the Sense Men use them in.
- 1811, William Hazlitt, “A Day by the Fire”, in The Reflector:
  I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile.
- 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 2, in The Affair at the Novelty Theatre:
  For this scene, a large number of supers are engaged, and in order to further swell the crowd, practically all the available stage hands have to ‘walk on’ dressed in various coloured dominoes, and all wearing masks.
An instance of helping.
Bob gave Alice a hand to move the furniture.‎
- 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 4, in The Celebrity:
  The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on an afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.
Handwriting; style of penmanship.
a good hand‎
- 1600, William Shakespeare, As You Like It, IV-iii:
  I say she never did invent this letter; This is a man’s invention and his hand
- 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island:
  I found written on the other side, in a very good, clear hand, this short message […]
- 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde:
  "This is a strange note," said Mr. Utterson; and then sharply, "How do you come to have it open?" "The man at Maw's was main angry, sir, and he threw it back to me like so much dirt," returned Poole. "This is unquestionably the doctor's hand, do you know?" resumed the lawyer. "I thought it looked like it," said the servant rather sulkily; and then, with another voice, "But what matters hand of write?" he said. "I've seen him!"
- 2013 September 14, Jane Shilling, “The Golden Thread: the Story of Writing, by Ewan Clayton, review [print edition: Illuminating language]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review), page R28:
  [T]he pleasure of writing on wax with a stylus is exemplified by the fine, flowing hand of a Roman scribe who made out the birth certificate of Herennia Gemella, born March 128 AD.
A person's autograph or signature.
Given under my Hand and Seal of the State this 1st Day of January, 2010.‎
Personal possession; ownership.
- 1603, Richard Knolles, The History of the Turks:
  Receiving in hand one year’s tribute.
(usually in the plural, hands) Management, domain, control.
in safe hands; in good hands; He lost his job when the factory changed hands. With the business back in the founder's hands, there is new hope for the company. With John in charge of the project, it's in good hands.‎
- 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Luke 1:1
  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us […]
- 1670, John Milton, The History of Britain:
  But Albinus, in those troublesome times ensuing under the short reign of Pertinax and Didius Julianus ¶, found means to keep in his hands the government of Britain.
(heading) That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.
1. (card games) The set of cards held by a player.
2. (tobacco manufacturing) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together.
3. (collective) The collective noun for a bunch of bananas.
Applause.
Give him a hand.‎
- 2013, Tom Shone, Oscar nominations pull a surprise by showing some taste – but will it last? (in The Guardian, 11 January 2013)
  Also a big hand for Silver Linings Playbook, an exuberant modern screwball comedy we had, in an unseemly fit of cynicism, deemed "too entertaining" for Academy voters.
(historical) A Native American gambling game, involving guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or similar, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.
(firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
A whole rhizome of ginger.
The feel of a fabric; the impression or quality of the fabric as judged qualitatively by the sense of touch.
This fabric has a smooth, soft hand.‎
(archaic) Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.
- 1717, Edward Hyde Clarendon, History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England: Begun in the Year 1641, volume 2:
  They who thought they could never be secure in any peace, except the King were first at their mercy, and so obliged to accept the conditions they would give him, were willing to change the hand in carrying on the war; and many, who thought the Earl of Essex behaved himself too imperiously, were willing to have the command in one who was more their equal.
- Judges 6.36:
  Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand.
(archaic) Agency in transmission from one person to another.
to buy at first hand (from the producer, or when new); to buy at second hand (when no longer in the producer’s hand, or when not new); It's not a rumor. I heard it at first hand.‎
(obsolete) Rate; price.
- 1625, Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels Civil and Moral:
  For time is the measure of business, as money is of wares; and business is bought at a dear hand, where there is small dispatch.

Synonyms

(part of the arm below the wrist): manus (obsolete), paw (of some animals)

Usage notes

Hand is used figuratively for a large variety of acts or things, in the doing, or making, or use of which the hand is in some way employed or concerned; also, as a symbol to denote various qualities or conditions, as,

(a) Activity; operation; work; — in distinction from the head, which implies thought, and the heart, which implies affection.

His hand will be against every man. — Genesis 16:12

(b) Power; might; supremacy; — often in the Scriptures.

With a mighty hand . . . will I rule over you. — Ezekiel 20:33.

(d) Contract; — commonly of marriage; for example to ask the hand; to pledge the hand

Meronyms

(part of the fore limb below the forearm): index finger, middle finger, palm, pinky, ring finger, thumb

Derived terms

Terms derived from hand (noun)

in good hands
in hand
laying on of hands
left-handed
lend a hand
minute hand
off-hand
old hand
on hand
on the one hand
on the other hand
out of hand
out of someone's hands
overhand
play into someone's hands
play the hand one is dealt
put one's hands together
putty in someone's hands
ranchhand
red-handed
right-handed
second hand, second-hand
shake hands
show of hands
stablehand
stagehand
take in hand
the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world
tie someone's hands
tip one's hand
try one's hand at
underhand
underhanded
wash one's hands of

Translations

part of the fore limb

Abkhaz:
Afrikaans: hand (af)
Ainu: テㇰ ‎(tek)
Akan: nsa
Akkadian: 𒋗 ‎(qātu)
Albanian: dorë (sq)
Amharic: እጅ ‎(ʾəǧ)
Arabic: يَد f ‎(yad)
Egyptian Arabic: إيد f ‎('iid), إدين f pl ‎(ʔedén)
Aramaic:

Syriac: ܐܝܕܐ f ‎(’īdā’)

Hebrew: אידא f ‎(’īdā’)
Armenian: ձեռք (hy) ‎(jeṙkʿ)
Aromanian: mãnã
Assamese: হাত
Asturian: mano (ast) f
Avar: квер ‎(kwer)
Aymara: ampara (ay)
Azeri: əl (az)
Bakhtiari: دست ‎(dast)
Baluchi: دست ‎(dast)
Banjarese: tangan
Bashkir: ҡул ‎(qul)
Basque: esku
Bau Bidayuh: tongan
Belarusian: рука f ‎(ruká)
Bengali: হাত ‎(hat)
Berber:
Tashelhit: ^{(please verify)}afus m
Borôro: kera
Breton: dorn (br)
Bulgarian: ръка (bg) f ‎(rǎká)
Burmese: လက် (my) ‎(lak)
Catalan: mà (ca) f
Central Atlas Tamazight: ⴰⴼⵓⵙ m ‎(afus)
Central Mazahua: dye'e
Central Melanau: paa
Chamicuro: shijpa
Chechen:
Cherokee: ᎤᏬᏰᏂ ‎(uwoyeni)
Chichewa: dzanja
Chinese:

Cantonese: 手 ‎(sau²)

Mandarin: 手 (zh) ‎(shǒu)

Min Nan: 手 (zh-min-nan) ‎(tshiú)

Wu: 手骨 ‎(seu-kueh)
Chuvash: алӑ ‎(ală)
Cia-Cia: lima
Coptic:

Bohairic: ϫⲓϫ f ‎(d͡ʒid͡ʒ), ⲧⲟⲧ f ‎(ḍod, ṭot), ⲧⲱⲣⲓ f ‎(ḍōri, ṭōri)

Sahidic: ϭⲓϫ f ‎(šid͡ʒ)
Czech: ruka (cs) f
Dakota: nape
Dalmatian: mun m
Danish: hånd (da)
Darkinjung: birril
Dhivehi: އަތްތިލަ ‎(attila)
Dutch: hand (nl) f
Eastern Arrernte:
Erzya: кедь ‎(kedʹ)
Esperanto: mano (eo)
Estonian: käsi (et)
Evenki: ӈалэ ‎(ŋale)
Ewe: asi
Faroese: hond (fo) f
Finnish: käsi (fi)
French: main (fr) f
Friulian: man
Galician: man (gl) f, mao (gl) f
Gamilaraay: mara
Ge'ez: እድ ‎(ʾəd)
Georgian: ხელი ‎(xeli), მტევანი ‎(mṭevani)
Old Georgian: ხელი ‎(xeli)
German: Hand (de) f
Gothic: 𐌷𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐍃 f ‎(handus)
Greek: χέρι (el) n ‎(chéri)
Ancient: χείρ ‎(kheír)
Greenlandic: assak
Guaraní: po (gn)
Gujarati: હાથ (gu) ‎(hāth)
Haida: stláay
Hausa: hannū (ha) m
Hawaiian: lima
Hebrew: יד (he) f ‎(yad)
Hiligaynon: lima
Hindi: हाथ (hi) m ‎(hāth)
Hungarian: kéz (hu)
Ibaloi: takday
Iban: tangan
Icelandic: hönd (is) f, mund (is) f
Ido: manuo (io)
Ilocano: ima
Indonesian: tangan (id), yad (id)
Ingrian: käzi
Interlingua: mano
Interlingue:
Iranun: barukan
Irish: lámh (ga) f
Istriot: man m
Italian: mano (it) f
Japanese: 手 (ja) ‎(て, te)
Javanese:
Kannada: ಕೈ (kn) ‎(kai)
Kashmiri: अथु
Kashubian: rãka f
Kazakh: қол (kk) ‎(qol)
Khakas: хол ‎(xol)
Khmer: ដៃ (km) ‎(dai)
Kikuyu: guoko
Kimaragang: longon
Konkani: हाथु
Korean: 손 (ko) ‎(son)
Kurdish:

Kurmanji: dest (ku)

Sorani: دەست ‎(dest)
Kyrgyz: кол (ky) ‎(kol)
Ladin: man m
Ladino: mano
Lak: ка ‎(ka)
Lao: ມື (lo) ‎(mư̄)
Latgalian: rūka f, plauksts
Latin: manus (la) f
Latvian: roka (lv) f, plauksta (lv) f
Laz:
Lithuanian: ranka (lt) f, plaštaka (lt) f
Lotud: longon
Luiseño: mát
Luxembourgish:
Macedonian: рака f ‎(ráka)
Malay: tangan (ms), yad
Malayalam: കൈ (ml) ‎(kai)
Maltese: id f

Manchu: gala
Mandinka: buloo
Mansi: кāт ‎(kāt)
Maori: ringa
Marathi: हात ‎(hāt)
Maricopa: iishaaly
Mbabaram: mara
Megleno-Romanian: mǫnă f
Minaean: 𐩺𐩵 ‎(yd)
Minangkabau: tangan
Mingrelian:
Mongolian: гар (mn) ‎(gar)
Mulam: 手 ‎(nja2)
Mòcheno: hònt
Nahuatl: maitl (nah)
Nama: ǁkhôab
Navajo: álaʼ
Nepali: हात (ne) ‎(hāta)
Ngarrindjeri: mari
Norman: main f (Jersey), man f (France), môin f (Guernsey)
North Frisian: (Mooring) hönj f, (Föhr-Amrum) hun f
Northern Kankanay: ledeng
Norwegian:

Bokmål: hand (no) f, hånd (no) m, f

Nynorsk: hand f
Nuer: pätet
Occitan: man (oc)
Ojibwe: oninjiimaa
Okinawan: でぃ
Old Church Slavonic:

Cyrillic: рѫка f ‎(rǫka)

Glagolitic: ⱃⱘⰽⰰ f ‎(rǫka)
Old English: hand (ang) f, folm f
Old Frisian: hand, hond
Old Norse: hǫnd f, lámr m
Old Provençal: man, ma
Old South Arabian: 𐩺𐩵
Old Turkic: 𐰠𐰏 ‎(elig)
Oriya: ହାତ (or) ‎(hāta), ହାତ (or)
Oromo: harka
Ossetian: арм ‎(arm)
Ottoman Turkish: ايل ‎(el), ال ‎(el), دست ‎(dest), ید ‎(yed)
Pashto: لاس (ps) m ‎(lās)
Persian: دست (fa) ‎(dast), دس (fa) ‎(das)
Phoenician: 𐤉𐤃 ‎(yd)
Pipil: -mey
Pitjantjatjara:
Polabian: rǫkă f
Polish: ręka (pl) f, dłoń (pl) f
Portuguese: mão (pt) f
Powhatan: metench
Punjabi: ਹਸਤ ‎(hast)
Purepecha: jajki, jájki
Qatabanian: 𐩺𐩵 ‎(yd)
Quechua: maki (qu)
Rohingya: hát
Romani: vast
Romanian: mână (ro) f
Romansch: maun m
Rungus: longon
Russian: рука́ (ru) f ‎(ruká), кисть руки́ f ‎(kistʹ rukí)
Rwanda-Rundi: ikiganza (rw) class 7/8, ibiganza pl
Sabaean: 𐩺𐩵 ‎(yd)
Sabah Bisaya: longon, kariam
Sanskrit: हस्त (sa) m ‎(hasta)
Sardinian: manu f
Scots: haund
Scottish Gaelic: làmh f
Sebop: agem
Serbo-Croatian:

Cyrillic: шака f, рука f

Roman: šaka (sh) f, ruka (sh) f
Sichuan Yi: ꇇ ‎(lot)
Sicilian: manu (scn)
Sindhi: हथ
Sinhalese: අත (si) ‎(ata)
Slovak: ruka (sk) f
Slovene: roka (sl) f
Somali: gacan (so)
Sorbian:

Lower Sorbian: ruka f

Upper Sorbian: ruka (hsb) f
Sotho: letsoho
Southern Altai: кол ‎(kol)
Southern Kalinga: agpar, ima
Spanish: mano (es) f
Old Spanish: mano
Sumerian: 𒋗 ‎(ŠU)
Sundanese: panangan
Svan: ში ‎(ši)
Swahili: mkono (sw)
Swedish: hand (sv) c
Tagal Murut: longon
Tagalog: kamay
Tajik: даст (tg) ‎(dast)
Talysh: دست ‎(dast)
Tambunan Dusun: longon
Tamil: கை (ta) ‎(kai)
Taos: mą̏nénemą
Tatar: кул (tt) ‎(qul)
Tawallammat Tamajaq: ⴼⵙ m ‎(ǝfus)
Telugu: చెయ్యి (te) ‎(ceyyi)
Thai: มือ (th) ‎(mue)
Tibetan: ལག ‎(lag)
Tigre: እዴ ‎(ʾǝde)
Tigrinya: ኢድ (ti) ‎('id)
Timugon Murut: longon
Tlingit: jín
Tocharian A: tsar
Tocharian B: ṣar
Tok Pisin: han (tpi)
Tupinambá: pó
Turkish: el (tr)
Tuvan: хол ‎(hol)
Tzotzil: k'obol
Ugaritic: 𐤉𐤃 ‎(yd)
Ukrainian: рука (uk) f ‎(ruká)
Urdu: ہاتھ m ‎(hāth), دست ‎(dast)
Uyghur: قول (ug) ‎(qol)
Uzbek: qoʻl (uz)
Venetian: man (vec) m
Vietnamese: tay (vi), bàn tay (vi)
Vilamovian: haond
Volapük: nam (vo)
Votic: tšäsi
Walloon: mwin (wa) f
Waray-Waray: ka-mot
Welsh: llaw (cy) f
West Coast Bajau: tangan
West Frisian: hân (fy) c
Xhosa: isandla
Yakut: илии ‎(ilii)
Yiddish: האַנט f ‎(hant), הענט f pl ‎(hent)
Yup'ik: unan
Zazaki: dest m
Zulu: isandla (zu) class 7/8
ǃXóõ: ǀkxʼàa

pointer of an analogue/analog clock

Afrikaans: wyster, wyser, hand (af)
Arabic: عَقْرَب m ‎(ʿaqrab)
Armenian: սլաք (hy) ‎(slakʿ)
Aymara: ampara (ay)
Belarusian: стрэлка f ‎(strélka)
Breton: biz (br) m
Bulgarian: стрелка (bg) f ‎(strélka)
Catalan: busca (ca) f, maneta (ca) f, agulla (ca) f
Chinese:
Mandarin: 針 (zh), 针 (zh) ‎(zhēn), 指針 (zh), 指针 (zh) ‎(zhǐzhēn)
Czech: ručička (cs) f
Danish: viser c
Dutch: wijzer (nl) m
Esperanto: montrilo
Ewe: asi
Finnish: viisari (fi), osoitin (fi)
French: aiguille (fr) f
Georgian: ისარი ‎(isari)
German: Zeiger (de) m
Greek: δείκτης (el) m ‎(deíktis)
Hebrew: מחוג m ‎(makhog)
Hungarian: mutató (hu)
Interlingua: flecha
Irish: lámh (ga) f

Japanese: 針 (ja) ‎(はり, hari)
Korean: 바늘 (ko) ‎(baneul)
Latvian: rādītājs m
Lithuanian: rodyklė f
Malay: jarum
Norwegian:

Bokmål: viser (no) m

Nynorsk: visar m
Polish: wskazówka (pl) f
Portuguese: ponteiro (pt) m
Romanian: ac indicator, limbă (ro) (de ceas)
Romansch: lantschetta f
Russian: стре́лка (ru) f ‎(strélka)
Scottish Gaelic: spòg f
Serbo-Croatian:

Cyrillic: казаљка f

Roman: kazaljka (sh) f
Slovak: ručička f
Slovene: kazalec (sl) m
Spanish: manecilla f, aguja (es) f, saeta (es) f
Swedish: visare (sv) c
Thai: เข็มนาฬิกา ‎(kĕm naalígaa)
Ukrainian: стрілка f ‎(strílka)
Vietnamese: kim (vi)

hand's breadth

Bulgarian: педя f ‎(pedja)
Finnish: kämmen (fi)
Japanese: 束 (ja) ‎(つか, tsuka)

Swedish: tvärhand c (archaic)

side; part; direction, either right or left

Afrikaans: kant
Catalan: mà (ca) f
Chinese:
Mandarin: 邊 (zh), 边 (zh) ‎(biān), 側 (zh), 侧 (zh) ‎(cè)
Dutch: kant (nl) m, zijde (nl) f
Finnish: puoli (fi), suunta (fi)
German: Hand (de) f, Seite (de) f
Greek: πλευρά (el) f ‎(plevrá)
Japanese: 側 (ja) ‎(がわ, gawa, そば, soba)
Pashto: لاس (ps) m ‎(lās)

Persian: دست (fa) ‎(dast)
Portuguese: direção (pt) f
Romanian: parte (ro), latură (ro)
Russian: сторона́ (ru) f ‎(storoná)
Spanish: mano (es) f
Swedish: sida (sv), flank (sv)
Uyghur: قول (ug) ‎(qol), қол ‎(qol)
Vietnamese: phía (vi), bên (vi) (side), hướng (vi) (direction), mặt (vi) (on one hand...)

power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity

Catalan: mà (ca) f
Dutch: handigheid (nl) f
Finnish: kyky (fi), taito (fi)
Greek: δεξιοτέχνης (el) m ‎(dexiotéchnis)

Japanese: 腕 (ja) ‎(うで, ude)
Persian: زبردستی (fa) ‎(zebardasti)
Romanian: îndemânare (ro), abilitate (ro), dibăcie (ro)
Swedish: förmåga (sv), skicklighet (sv), handlag n

servant, laborer, workman, trained for special duty; a performer

Afrikaans: matroos (ship), werksman (laborer)
Arabic: عَامِل ‎(ʿāmil)
Bulgarian: работник (bg) m ‎(rabotnik)
Dutch: matroos (nl) m (ship only), werkkracht (nl) m, werkman (nl) m
Esperanto: matroso, ŝipano, maristo
Finnish: apumies (fi), renki (fi)
French: matelot (fr) m
German: Handlanger (de) m
Greek: χειρώνακτας (el) m ‎(cheirónaktas), εργάτης (el) m ‎(ergátis), εργάτρια (el) f ‎(ergátria)

Persian: کارگر (fa) ‎(kârgar)
Portuguese: mão-de-obra (pt) f
Russian: рабо́чий (ru) m ‎(rabóčij)
Spanish: obrero (es) m, mano de obra f
Tamil: கையாள் (ta) ‎(kaiyāḷ)
Vietnamese: công nhân (vi), nhân công (vi) (worker), thủy thủ (vi) (at sea)

instance of helping

Finnish: apu (fi)

Swedish: handtag (sv) n

handwriting; style of penmanship

Afrikaans: handskrif
Danish: håndskrift c
Dutch: handschift n
Finnish: käsiala (fi)
German: Handschrift (de) f
Greek: γραφή (el) f ‎(grafí), γράψιμο (el) n ‎(grápsimo), γραφικός χαρακτήρας m ‎(grafikós charaktíras)
Hebrew: כתב יד m ‎(ktav yad)
Interlingua: mano
Irish: lámh (ga) f
Latin: manus (la) f

Latvian: rokraksts m
Lithuanian: braižas m, rašysena f
Norwegian: handskrift, håndskrift m
Persian: دست‌نویس ‎(dastnevis)
Portuguese: letra (pt) f
Russian: по́черк (ru) m ‎(póčerk)
Swedish: handstil (sv) c
Tagalog: (literally) sulat (tl) n
Vietnamese: chữ viết (vi)
Zulu: isandla (zu) class 7/8

person's autograph or signature

Bulgarian: подпис m ‎(podpis)
Dutch: handtekening (nl) f
Finnish: nimikirjoitus (fi)

Swedish: namnteckning (sv) c, underskrift (sv) c

personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management

Finnish: käsi (fi)

Vietnamese: tay (vi), quyền (vi), quyền hành (vi)

management, domain, control

Bulgarian: власт (bg) f ‎(vlast), контрол (bg) m ‎(kontrol)
Finnish: kädet (fi) pl

Swedish: hand (sv) c (in certain expressions)

that which is, or may be, held in a hand at once

Afrikaans: handvol
Bulgarian: шепа (bg) f ‎(šepa)
Danish: håndfuld c
Dutch: handvol (nl) n
Esperanto: plenmano
Finnish: kourallinen (fi)
French: poignée (fr) f
German: Handvoll (de) f

Greek: χεριά (el) f ‎(cheriá)
Interlingua: manata
Japanese: 一握り ‎(ひとにぎり, hitonigiri)
Portuguese: mão (pt) f, punhado (pt) m, mão-cheia (pt) f, mãozada f
Russian: горсть (ru) f ‎(gorstʹ)
Spanish: manotada f, puñado (es) m
Vietnamese: ván (vi) (a), buộc (vi) (b)

set of cards held by a player in a card game

Afrikaans: hand (af)
Bulgarian: ръка (bg) f ‎(rǎka)
Catalan: mà (ca) f
Czech: ruka (cs)
Dutch: speelhand f
Finnish: käsi (fi)
French: main (fr) f
Galician: man (gl) f
German: Hand (de) f, Blatt (de) n
Greek: χαρτωσιά (el) f ‎(chartosiá)
Interlingua: mano
Japanese: 手札 ‎(てふだ, tefuda)

Pashto: لاس (ps) m ‎(lās)
Persian: دست (fa) ‎(dast)
Polish: ręka (pl) f
Portuguese: mão (pt) f
Romanian: mână (ro) f
Russian: ка́рты (ru) f pl ‎(kárty)
Scottish Gaelic: làmh f
Spanish: mano (es) f
Swedish: hand (sv) c
Tamil: கை (ta) ‎(kai)
Vietnamese: ván (vi)

bundle of tobacco leaves

Swedish: bunt (sv) c

bunch of bananas

Finnish: terttu
Japanese: 房 (ja) ‎(ふさ, fusa)
Persian: خوشه (fa) ‎(khōša, khōše), دسته (fa) ‎(dasta, daste)
Polish: kiść (pl) f
Portuguese: cacho (pt) m

Slovene: šop m
Spanish: cacho (es) m
Swedish: klase (sv) c
Tamil: சீப்பு (ta) ‎(cīppu)

applause

Finnish: suosionosoitukset pl, aplodit pl
Japanese: 喝采 (ja) ‎(かっさい, kassai)

Swedish: applåd (sv) c

small part of a gunstock near the lock, grasped when aiming

Afrikaans: handgreep, greep
Dutch: greep (nl) m, handgreep (nl) m

Finnish: kädensija (fi)
German: Handgriff (de) m

whole rhizome of ginger

Finnish: mukula (fi)

feel of a fabric

Finnish: tuntuma, tuntu

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

Dutch: hand (nl) f (only with a possessive, e.g. hand Gods)
Finnish: suoritus (fi)

Vietnamese: tay (vi)

agency in transmission from one person to another

Afrikaans: gee

Finnish: välikäsi (fi), käsi (fi)

rate, price

Finnish: hinta (fi), taksa (fi)

Poker hands in English · poker hands (layout · text)

high card	pair	two pair	three of a kind	straight

flush	full house	four of a kind	straight flush	royal flush

Verb

hand ‎(third-person singular simple present hands, present participle handing, simple past and past participle handed)

(transitive) To give, pass, or transmit with the hand, literally or figuratively.
- 2013 August 10, “Can China clean up fast enough?”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848:
  It has jailed environmental activists and is planning to limit the power of judicial oversight by handing a state-approved body a monopoly over bringing environmental lawsuits.
He handed them the letter. She handed responsibility over to her deputy.‎
(transitive) To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct.
to hand a lady into a carriage‎
(transitive, obsolete) To manage.
- a. 1709, Matthew Prior, “The Lady's Looking-Glass”, in Poems on Several Occasions:
  I bless my chain; I hand my oar. / Nor think on all I left on shore.
(transitive, obsolete) To seize; to lay hands on.
(Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
(transitive, rare) To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
(transitive, nautical, said of a sail) To furl.
(Can we find and add a quotation of Totten to this entry?)
(intransitive, obsolete) To cooperate.

Derived terms

Terms derived from hand (verb)

Translations

to give, pass or transmit with the hand

Afrikaans: (hand to) ^{(please verify)}aangee afgee (hand away)
Bulgarian: връчвам (bg) ‎(vrǎčvam)
Cebuano: hatag
Czech: podat (cs)
Dutch: overhandigen (nl)
Esperanto: doni (eo)
Faroese: handa
Finnish: ojentaa (fi), antaa (fi)
French: donner (fr), passer (fr)
German: reichen (de)
Greek: δίνω (el) ‎(díno)
Ancient: ὀρέγω ‎(orégō)

Interlingua: donar, passar
Italian: dare (it), passare (it), consegnare (it)
Norwegian: overrekke, gi (no)
Portuguese: dar (pt), entregar (pt), passar (pt)
Russian: передава́ть (ru) ‎(peredavátʹ), вруча́ть (ru) ‎(vručátʹ)
Spanish: dar (es), pasar (es), entregar (es)
Swedish: ge (sv), lämna över
Vietnamese: (cho) đưa (vi)

to lead, guide, or assist with the hand

Dutch: geleiden (nl), begeleiden (nl), leiden (nl), helpen (nl)
Finnish: ohjata (fi), auttaa (fi)
German: geleiten
Portuguese: ajudar (pt), auxiliar (pt), conduzir (pt), guiar (pt)

Spanish: llevar (es)
Swedish: ledsaga (sv), hjälpa (sv)
Vietnamese: giúp (vi), đỡ (vi)

References

hand in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: though · get · eyes · #151: hand · young · place · give

Anagrams

NADH

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch hand.

Noun

hand ‎(plural hande)

hand

Dutch

Picture dictionary

(kleine vinger)

Click on labels in the image

arm

Pronunciation

Rhymes: -ɑnt
IPA^(key): /ɦɑnt/

Etymology

From Old Dutch hant, from Proto-Germanic *handuz. Compare English hand, German Hand, West Frisian hân, Danish hånd.

Noun

hand f ‎(plural handen, diminutive handje n)

(anatomy) hand of a human or other simian

Derived terms

Terms derived from hand

achterhand
afhandelen
afhandig
behandelen
handarbeider
handdruk
handelbaar
handelen
handenvol
handenvrij

handgemaakt
handig, handigheid
handlezen
handmatig
handpalm
handschrift
handtastelijk
handtekening
handvol
handwoordenboek

handzaam
hardhandig
onderhands
onderhands
onhandelbaar
onhandig
overhand
overhandigen
rechterhand, linkerhand
rechtshandig, linkshandig

French

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɑ̃d/

Noun

hand m ‎(uncountable)

handball
On va jouer au hand, tu veux venir?
We're going to play handball, you want to come?

Synonyms

handball

Middle English

Etymology

Old English hand

Noun

hand (plural hands)

hand

Descendants

English: hand

Norwegian Bokmål

Picture dictionary

Click on labels in the image

arm

Alternative forms

hånd

Etymology

From Old Norse hǫnd, from Proto-Germanic *handuz

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /han/, [hɑn]
Homophones: han, hann
Rhymes: -ɑn

Noun

hand f, m ‎(definite singular handa or handen, indefinite plural hender, definite plural hendene)

(anatomy) hand

Derived terms

Related terms

hanske ‎(“glove”)

References

“hand” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Old Norse hǫnd, from Proto-Germanic *handuz

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /han/, [hɑn]
Homophones: han, hann
Rhymes: -ɑn

Noun

hand f ‎(definite singular handa, indefinite plural hender, definite plural hendene)

(anatomy) hand

Derived terms

Related terms

hanske ‎(“glove”)

References

“hand” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *handuz. Compare Old Frisian and Old Saxon hand, Old High German hant, Old Norse hǫnd.

Noun

hand f

hand

Declension

Declension of hand (strong u-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	hand	handa
accusative	hand	handa
genitive	handa	handa
dative	handa	handum

Descendants

Middle English: hand
- English: hand

Old Frisian

Alternative forms

hond

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *handuz.

Noun

hand f

hand

Descendants

North Frisian:

Föhr-Amrum: hun

Helgoland: Hun

Mooring: hönj
Saterland Frisian: Hound
West Frisian: hân

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *handuz. Compare Old Frisian and Old English hand, Old High German hant, Old Norse hǫnd.

Noun

hand f

hand

Declension

Declension of hand (strong u-stem)

	Singular	Plural
nominative	hand	hendi
accusative	hand	hendi
genitive	hendi	hando
dative	hendi	handum
instrumental	—	—

Old Swedish

Etymology

From Old Norse hǫnd, from Proto-Germanic *handuz.

Noun

hand f

Declension

Declension of hand (consonant stem)

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	hand	handin	hænder	hændrina(r), -rena(r)
accusative	hand	handina, -ena	hænder	hændrina(r), -rena(r)
dative	hændi, -e	hændinni, -inne	handum, -om	handumin, -omen
genitive	handa(r)	handinna(r)	handa	handanna

Descendants

Swedish: hand

Swedish

Picture dictionary

Click on labels in the image

arm

Etymology

From Old Swedish hand, from Old Norse hǫnd, from Proto-Germanic *handuz. Cognate with Danish hånd, Norwegian hand, English hand and German Hand.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /hand/

Noun

hand c

(anatomy) hand
Han tjatade jämt om att hon måste tvätta händerna.
He was always nagging on her to wash her hands.
(card games) hand; the set of cards held by a player
Hon fick en bra hand, och satsade högt.
She was dealt a good set of cards, and placed a high bet.

Declension

Declension of hand

	singular		plural
Common	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	hand	handen	händer	händerna
genitive	hands	handens	händers	händernas

Related terms

fyrhändigt
för hand
förhandenvarande
handalfabet
handarbeta
handarbete
handaskicklighet
handaslöjd
handbagage
handbibliotek
handblåst
handboja
handbok
handboll
handborr
handbrev
handbroderad
handbroms
handbukett
handdator
handdocka
handdriven
handduk
handdusch
handeldvapen
handfallen
handfast
handfat
handflata

handfri
handfull
handfängsel
handfäste
handfästning
handgallring
handgemäng
handgjord
handgranat
handgrepp
handgriplig
handgripligen
handgräsklippare
handgången
handha
handhavande
handhavare
handhållen
handkamera
handkammare
handkanna
handkassa
handkirurgi
handklapp
handklappning
handklaver
handklove
handknuten
handknypplad

handkort
handkraft
handkräm
handkvarn
handkyss
handkärra
handlag
handled
handleda
handlinning
handlov
handlykta
handlån
handlägga
handläggare
handlöst
handmata
handmjölka
handmålad
handout
handpant
handpeng
handpenning
handplocka
handpress
handprotes
handpump
handpåläggning
handredskap

handreglage
handrygg
handräckning
handrörelse
hands
handsbred
handsbredd
handsekreterare
handsfree
handskada
handskadad
handskakning
handskas
handske
handskrift
handskriven
handskuren
handslag
handslagen
handsmidd
handsnidad
handspegel
handstans
handstickad
handstickning
handstil
handstående
handsvett
handsydd

handså
handsåg
handsätta
handsömnad
handtag
handteckning
handtextad
handtryckning
handtryckt
handtvätt
handtvättning
handuppräckning
handvapen
handverktyg
handviftning
handvinsch
handvolt
handvård
handvändning
handväska
handvävd
handyxa
hantera
hantlanga
hantverk
händig
högerhand
vänsterhand

References

hand in Svenska Akademiens Ordlista över svenska språket (13th ed., online)

Etymology

From Old High German *hand, northern variant of hant. The regular form in Moselle Franconian and some southern dialects of Ripuarian is Hand with a plural Hänn (< *hende) through the development: intervocalic -nd- → -nn-. The regular form in most of Ripuarian is Hank with a plural Häng (< *henge) through velarization and subsequently a corresponding development: intervocalic -ŋg- → -ŋŋ-.

These regular systems are preserved in Moselle Franconian and western Ripuarian. In many eastern and central Ripuarian dialects, the native velarization has to a large degree been reverted under the influence of standard German and surrounding varieties. This reversion, which has emanated from Cologne, is irregular, affecting -nk more than it does -ng-, and hence it has led to occasional variation between velarized and de-velarized forms within the inflectional paradigm of one word (compare Wand, Zand, schänge).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /hant/