HAND

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.

That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand; as:

A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey.

An index or pointer on a dial; as, the hour or minute hand of a clock.

A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.

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.

Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity. He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator. Addison.

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.

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.

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.

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 goverment of Britain. Milton.

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.

Rate; price. [Obs.] "Business is bought at a dear hand, where there is small dispatch." Bacon.

That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once; as:

The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.

To be engaged upon or occupied with. -- To have one's hands full, to have in hand al 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.

To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as, he handed them the letter.

To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct; as, to hand a lady into a carriage.

To manage; as, I hand my oar. [Obs.] Prior.

To seize; to lay hands on. [Obs.] Shak.

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

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.

To coöperate. [Obs.] Massinger.