handful
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- handfull (archaic)
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English, from Old English handful (“handful”), from Proto-Germanic *handfullą, *handfullō, *handfulljô (“handful”), from Proto-Germanic *handuz (“hand”), *fullaz (“full”), equivalent to hand + full (“fullness, plenty”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Hondful (“handful”), West Frisian hânfol (“handful”), Dutch handvol (“handful”), Danish håndfuld (“handful”), Swedish handfull (“handful”), Icelandic handfylli (“handful”).
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
handful (plural handfuls or handsful)
- The amount that a hand will grasp or contain.
- I put two or three corns in my mouth, liked it, stole a handful, went into my chamber, chewed it, and for two months after never failed taking toll of every pennyworth of oatmeal that came into the house. - Joseph Addison, The Spectator, Vol. VI
- (obsolete) A hand's breadth; four inches.
- Knap the tongs together about a handful from the bottom. - Francis Bacon
- A small quantity, usually approximately equal to five.
- This handful of men were tied to very hard duty. - Fuller
- Something which can only be managed with difficulty.
- Those twins are a real handful to look after.
Synonyms[edit]
- (content of a hand) fistful
- handbreadth, handsbreadth
Derived terms[edit]
- 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
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
amount held in hand
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breadth of hand
small quantity
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handled with difficulty
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