HAND, n. [L. hendo, in prehendo.]

1. 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.
2. In falconry, the foot of a hawk; and in the manege, the fore-foot of a horse.
3. A measure of four inches; a palm; applied chiefly to horses; as, a horse 14 hands high.
4. 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.
5. 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 head and hand. – King Charles.
6. Power of performance; skill. A friend of mine has a very fine hand on the violin. – Addison. He had a mind to try his hand at a Spectator. – Addison.
7. Power of making or producing. An intelligent being coming out of the hands of infinite perfection. – Cheyne.
8. Manner of acting or performance; as, he changed his hand. – Dryden.
9. 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. iv. Lev. viii.
17. In Scripture, the hand of God, is his eternal purpose and executive power. – Acts iv.
18. The providential bounty of God. – Ps. civ.
19. The power of God exerted in judgments or mercies, in punishing or defending. – Judges ii. Ps. xxxii.
20. The spirit of God; divine influence. – 1 Kings xviii.
21. The favor of God, or his support. – Neh. ii. Luke i. At hand, near; either present and within reach, or not far distant. Your husband is at hand, I hear his trumpet. – Shak. #2. Near in time; not distant. The day of Christ is at hand. – 2 Thess. ii. 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. – Knolles. #2. In the 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 ii. On hand, in present possession; as, he has a supply of goods on hand. #2. Under one's care or management. Jupiter had a farm on his hands. – L'Estrange. Off hand. without delay, hesitation or difficulty; immediately; dextrously; 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. – Tobit. #2. At once; directly. To his hand, to my hand, &c., in readiness; already prepared; ready to be received. The work is made to his hands. – Locke. 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.] – Bacon. 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. – Mar. Dict. Hand to hand, in close union; close fight. – Dryden. But from hand to hand, is from one person to another. Hand in hand, in union; conjointly; unitedly. – Swift. To join hand in hand, is to unite efforts and act in concert. Hand in hand, fit; pat; suitable. – Shak. 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.] – Shak. 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. – Deut. xxiii. To take in hand, to attempt; to undertake. – Luke i. 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. South. To put the last hand or finishing hand to, to complete; to perfect; to make the fast corrections, or give the final polish. To change hands, to change sides; to shift. Butler. 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 Shakspeare. 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. To pour water on the hands, in the phraseology of the Scriptures, is to serve or minister to. 2 Kings iii. To wash the hands, to profess innocence. Matth. xxvii. To kiss the hand, imports adoration. Job xxxi. To lean on the hand, imports familiarity. 2 Kings v. To strike hands, to make a contract, or to become surety for another's debt or good behavior. Prov. xvii. 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 x. 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. lxviii. and cxlii. The lifting of the hand, was used in affirmation and swearing, and in prayer imported a solemn wishing of blessings from God. Gen. xiv. Lev. xix. To lift the hand against a superior, to rebel. 2 Sam. xx. To put forth the hand against one, to kill him. 1 Sam. xxiv. To put one's hand to a neighbor's goods, to steal them. Ex. xxii. To lay hands on in anger, to assault or seize, or to smite. Ex. xxiv. Is. xi. To lay the hand on the mouth, imports silence. Job xl. The laying on of hands, was also a ceremony used in consecrating one to office. Num. xxvii. 1 Tim. iv. It was also used in blessing persons. Mark x. Hiding the hand in the bosom, denotes idleness; inactivity; sluggishness. Prov. xix. The clapping of hands denotes joy and rejoicing. But in some instances, contempt or derision, or joy at the calamities of others. Ps. xlvii. Ezek. xxv. A station at the right hand is honorable, and denotes favor, approbation, or honor. A station on the left hand is less honorable. Matth. xx. God's standing at the right hand of men, imports his regard for them, and his readiness to defend and assist them. Ps. xvi. Satan's standing at the right hand of men, imports his readiness to accuse them, or to hinder or torment them. Zech. iii. Clean hands, denotes innocence and a blameless and holy life. Ps. xxiv. A slack hand, denotes idleness; carelessness; sloth. Prov. x. The right hand, denotes power; strength. Ex. xv.

1. To give or transmit with the hand. Hand me a book.
2. To lead, guide and lift with the hand; to conduct. Locke.
3. To manage; as, I hand my oar. Prior.
4. To seize; to lay hands on. [Not used.] Shak.
5. In seamanship, to furl; to wrap or roll a sail close to the yard, stay or mast, and fasten it with gaskets. Mar. Dict. 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.

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. To give, pass, or transmit with the hand] as, he handed them the letter.
3. To coöperate.
   
   
   [Obs.] Massinger.
4. A gambling game played by American Indians, consisting of guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or the like, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.
5. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand
   
   
   ; as: (a)
6. To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct; as, to hand a lady into a carriage.
7. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.
8. To manage; as, I hand my oar.
   
   
   [Obs.] Prior.
9. 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.

10. To seize; to lay hands on.
    
    
    [Obs.] Shak.
11. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
    
    

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

12. To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
    
    
    [R.]
13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.
19. Rate; price.
    
    
    [Obs.] "Business is bought at a dear hand, where there is small dispatch." Bacon.
20. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once
    
    
    ; as: (a) (Card Playing)
21. 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. 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. -- 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 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 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, 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.