'From hand to hand' definitions:

Definition of 'From hand to hand'

From: GCIDE
  • Hand \Hand\ (h[a^]nd), n. [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw. hand, OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. h["o]nd, Goth. handus, and perh. to Goth. hin[thorn]an to seize (in comp.). Cf. Hunt.]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand; as: (a) A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey. (b) An index or pointer on a dial; as, the hour or minute hand of a clock. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Side; part; direction, either right or left. [1913 Webster]
  • On this hand and that hand, were hangings. --Ex. xxxviii. 15. [1913 Webster]
  • The Protestants were then on the winning hand. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity. [1913 Webster]
  • He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance. [1913 Webster]
  • To change the hand in carrying on the war. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]
  • Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand. --Judges vi. 36. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile. --Hazlitt. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad, or running hand. Hence, a signature. [1913 Webster]
  • I say she never did invent this letter; This is a man's invention and his hand. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Some writs require a judge's hand. --Burril. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; -- usually in the plural. "Receiving in hand one year's tribute." --Knolles. [1913 Webster]
  • Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the government of Britain. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 10. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 11. Rate; price. [Obs.] "Business is bought at a dear hand, where there is small dispatch." --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
  • 12. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once; as: (a) (Card Playing) The quota of cards received from the dealer. (b) (Tobacco Manuf.) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together. [1913 Webster]
  • 13. (Firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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 In one's 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 with or To be hand 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 the (higher) upper hand, or {To 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 the hand against, or {To 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 hand to or To put the 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. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'From hand to hand'