Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Hānd'-gēar, n. p. 605The contrivances in a steam-engine for working the valves by hand; the starting-gear.Hānd'-glāss, n. p. 605A glass or small glazed frame used for placing over, protecting, and forwarding plants. Simmonds.Hānd'-guide, n. p. 605The same as HAND-DIRECTOR.Hānd'-hōle, n. p. 605(Steam-boilers.) A small hole at the bottom of a water space, for the purpose of inserting the hand, cleaning, &c. Hand-hole plate, the cover of a hand-hole.Hānd'-i-cāp, n. p. 605A race in which the horses carry different weights, according to their age and character for speed, &c., with a view to equalize the chances as much as possible; a contest in which the chances of…Hānd'i-cāp'per, n. p. 605The umpire of a handicap.Hānd'i-craft, n. p. 605Manual occupation; work performed by the hand; handicraft. Addison. 2. A man who obtains his living by manual labor; one skilled in some mechanical art; a handicraftsman. [Rare.] Dryden.Hānd'i-crafts'man, n. p. 605A man skilled or employed in manual occupation; a manufacturer. Swift.Hănd'i-ly, adv. p. 605In a handy manner.Hānd'i-ness, n. p. 605Quality or state of being handy.Hānd'l-work, n. p. 605Work done by the hands. The firmament showeth thine handiwork. Ps. xix. 1.Hānd'ker-cher, n. p. 605A handkerchief. [Obs. or colloq.] Chapman, 1654.Hănd'ker-chief, n. p. 605A piece of cloth, usually silk or linen, carried about the person for the purpose of wiping the face or hands. 2. A cloth to be worn about the neck; a necker-chief; a neckcloth.Hănd'-lăng'guage, n. p. 605The art of conversing by the hands.Hānd'le, v. t. p. 605To touch; to feel with the hand; to use or hold with the hand. The bodies we daily handle . . . hinder the approach of the part of our hands that press them. Locke. 2. To manage in appropriate use…Hănd'le, v. i. p. 605To use the hands; to labor or act by means of the hands. They have hands, but they handle not. Ps. cxv. 7.Hănd'le, n. p. 605That part of a vessel or instrument which is held in the hand when used, as the haft of a sword, the bail of a kettle, &c. 2. That of which use is made; the instrument of effecting a purpose; a tool.…Hănd'le-a-ble, a. p. 605Capable of being handled. Sherwood.Händ'-lēad, n. p. 605A small lead for sounding.Hănd'less, a. p. 605Without a hand. Shak.Hănd'ling, n. p. 605A touching or use by the hand; a treating in discussion; action. The heavens and your fair handling Have made you master of the field this day. Spencer. 2. (Paint.) The mode of using the pencil; mode…Hānd'-māde, a. p. 605Manufactured by hand; as, hand-made paper.Hānd'-māid or Hānd'-māid-en, n. p. 605A maid that waits at hand; a female servant or attendant.Händ'-māk'ing, n. p. 605The act of pilfering; theft. [Obs.] Latimer.Händ'-ôr'gan, n. p. 605A kind of musical instrument; a portable organ played by means of a cylinder or barrel set with pins and staples, and turned with a crank.Hănd'-plānt, n. p. 605(Bot.) A Mexican plant of the genus Cheirostemon (C. platanoides). See HAND-TREE.Hānd'-pŭmp, n. p. 605(Locomotives.) A pump situated at the side of the fire-box, and worked by means of a lever when the engine is standing with steam up.Hănd'-rāil, n. p. 605A rail, usually supported by balusters, as in staircases, to hold by. Gwilt.Hănd'-sāil, n. p. 605A sail managed by the hand. Sir W. Temple.Hănd'săw, n. p. 605A saw to be used with the hand. ☞ In the proverb, “not to know a hawk from a handsaw,” denoting great ignorance, handsaw is a corruption of heronshaw, that is, the heron.Hănd'-screw, n. p. 605An engine for raising heavy timbers or weights; a jack.Händ'sel, n. p. 605A sale, gift, or delivery into the hand of another; especially, a sale, gift, or delivery, or a using which is the first of a series, and regarded as an omen for the rest; a first installment; an…Hǎnd'sel, v. t. p. 605To give a handsel to; to use or do for the first time, especially so as to make fortunate or unfortunate. No contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath handseled it with prayer.…Hănd'sel-Mōn'day, n. p. 605The Monday after New Year when handsels or presents are given to servants, children, &c.Hand’sōme, a. p. 605Dexterous; skillful; handy; ready; convenient;—applied to things as well as persons. [Obs.] For a thief it is so handsome, as it may seem it was first invented for him. Spencer. That they [engines of…Hănd'sôme, v. t. p. 605To render handsome. [Obs.]Hănd'sôme-ly, adv. p. 605In a handsome manner.Hănd’sôme-ness, n. p. 605The quality or state of being handsome. He will not look with any handsomeness Upon a woman. Beau. & Fl. Handsomeness is the mere animal excellence, beauty the more imaginative. Hare.Hănd′spīke, n. p. 605A bar, usually of wood, used with the hand as a lever, for various purposes, as in raising weights, heaving about a windlass, &c.Hănd′-stăff, n. p. 605A javelin. Ez. xxxix. 9.Hănd'-tight, a. p. 605(Naut.) As tight as can be made by the hand. Totten.Hănd'-tree, n. p. 605(Bot.) A lofty tree found in Mexico (the Cheirostemon platanoides), having red flowers whose stamens unite in the form of a hand.Hānd'-vīse, n. p. 605A small vise used by hand, or for small work. Moxon.Hănd'-wheel, n. p. 605(Mach.) Any wheel worked by hand; usually the handle by which a valve or other part is adjusted.Hănd'-whīle, n. p. 605A little while. [Obs.] Heywood.Hănd'-wĭnged, a. p. 605Having wings resembling hands in their use; cheiropterous; — said of bats.Hănd'-wolf, n. p. 605A tamed wolf. Beau. & Fl.Hănd'-work, n. p. 605Handiwork.Hănd'wrīt-ing, n. p. 605The cast or form of writing peculiar to each hand or person; chirography. 2. That which is written by hand; manuscript.Hānd'y, a. p. 605Performed by the hand. [Obs.] “To draw up and come to handy strokes.” Milton. 2. Skillful in using the hand; dexterous; ready; adroit; skillful. “Each is handy in his way.” Dryden. 3. Ready to the…Hānd’y-dānd’y, n. p. 605A play among children in which something is shaken between two hands, and then a guess is made in which hand it is retained. Todd.Hănd’y-fight, n. p. 605A fight with the hands; boxing. Castor his horse, Pollux loves handy-fights. B. Jonson.Hănd'y-grīpe, n. p. 605Seizure by the hand. Hudibras.Händ’y-strōke, n. p. 605A blow inflicted by the hand.Hănd’y-work, n. p. 605Same as HANDIWORK, q. v.Hāng, v. t. p. 605To suspend; to affix to some elevated point without support from below; — often used with up or out; as, to hang a coat on a hook; to hang up a sign; to hang out a banner. 2. To fasten in a manner…Hăng, v. i. p. 606To be suspended or affixed to some elevated point without support from below; to dangle; to float; to rest; to remain; to stay. 2. To be fastened in such a manner as to allow of free motion on the…Hăng, n. p. 606A sharp or steep declivity. [Collog.] 2. The manner in which one part hangs upon another; connection; arrangement; plan; as, the hang of a scythe, or of a discourse. [Collog.] To get the hang of, to…Häng'-bird, n. p. 606(Ornith.) A bird, the Baltimore oriole (Icturus oriole);—so called from its nest, which is suspended from the limb of a tree.Häng'-bÿ, n. p. 606A dependent;—so called in contempt. Sirrah, I pray thee be acquainted with my two hang-byes here. B. Jonson.