2. (colloquial).—A title. Fr., une queue, as Monsieur Sans-queue = Mr. Nobody.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xxiii. She … entertained us with stories of colonial governors and their ladies, mentioning no persons but those who had handles to their names, as the phrase is.
1857. Ducange Anglicus, Vulg. Tongue. Handle, n. Title. Oh, you want a handle to your name.
1871. London Figaro, 17 June, ‘The plaint of a poor Parson.’ Neither he nor his clerical neighbours—unless they belong to county families, or have handles to their names—have ever been invited by the Dean to partake of the hospitalities of the Deanery.
1886. J. S. Winter, Army Society, ch. ii. That’s the worst of having a handle to one’s name.
1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 16 Jan. Here’s the Honourable Tom Jones, and Lord Smith, and Viscount Brown—that’s them, with the handles knocked off their names.
1892. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, i., 2. He was aye ettling after a bit handle to his name.
3. (colloquial).—Occasion; opportunity; means.
1753–77. Melmoth, Cicero, bk. ii., let. 17 (note 5). The defence of Vatinius gave a plausible handle for some censure upon Cicero.
Verb (cardsharpers’).—1. To conceal cards in the palm of the hand, or up the sleeves; to palm (q.v.).