handful

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Derived terms 1.3.3 Related terms 1.3.4 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Old English handfull.

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

handful (plural handfuls or handsful)

1. As much as the hand will grasp or contain. - Joseph Addison
2. (obsolete) A hand's breadth; four inches.

   Knap the tongs together about a handful from the bottom. - Francis Bacon

3. A small quantity, usually approximately equal to five, the number of fingers on a hand.

   This handful of men were tied to very hard duty. - Fuller

4. Something which can only be managed with difficulty.

   Those twins are a real handful to look after.

[edit] Synonyms

• (content of a hand) fistful
• handbreadth, handsbreadth

[edit] Derived terms

• To have one's handful: (Obsolete): to have one's hands full; to have all one can do.

  They had their handful to defend themselves from firing. - Sir Walter Raleigh

[edit] Related terms

• handgrip
• handhold

[edit] Translations