catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Hand \Hand\, n. [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw. hand,
     OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. h["o]nd, Goth. handus, and perh.
     to Goth. hinpan to seize (in comp.). Cf. Hunt.]
     1. 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.
  
     2. 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.
  
     3. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a
        palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.
  
     4. 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.
  
     5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill;
        dexterity.
  
              He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator.
                                                    --Addison.
  
     6. 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.
  
     7. 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.
  
     8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad or
        running hand. Hence, a signature.
  
              I say she never did invent this letter; This is a
              man's invention and his hand.         --Shak.
  
              Some writs require a judge's hand.    --Burril.
  
     9. 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
              goverment 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.
  
     Note: 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.
  
     Note: 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.                      --Shak.
             
  
     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.
  
     Hand 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 or 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, or 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 got 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 al 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, or 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, or 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, or 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 of the owner.

  hand to
     Englanti vb.
     (yhteys arkikieli k=en) (''hand it to someone'') antaa arvoa, nostaa
  hattua

  hand to /hˈand tuː/
  
  δίνω, παραδίδω