Handgriff

German

Etymology

Modern meanings since the 16th century. From Middle High German *hantgrif (only attested as hantgrift f (“the laying on of hands”)), from (Old High German hantgrif m (“handful, handgrip”), from Proto-West Germanic *handugripi (“handgrip”). Equivalent to Hand +‎ Griff.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhantˌɡʁɪf/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Handgriff m (strong, genitive Handgriffes or Handgriffs, plural Handgriffe)

1. handgrip

Declension

Declension of Handgriff [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Handgriff	die	Handgriffe
genitive	eines	des	Handgriffes, Handgriffs	der	Handgriffe
dative	einem	dem	Handgriff, Handgriffe1	den	Handgriffen
accusative	einen	den	Handgriff	die	Handgriffe

¹Now rare, see notes.

Further reading

• “Handgriff” in Duden online
• “Handgriff” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Pennsylvania German

Etymology

Compound of Hand (“hand”) +‎ Griff (“grip”). Compare English handgrip.

Noun

Handgriff m (plural Handgriffe)

1. grip (of a hand)
2. handle