1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Handsome Bodied Man in the Face, a jeering commendation of an ugly fellow.
Handsome as a last year’s corpse, adv. phr. (American).—A sarcastic compliment.
Handsomely! intj. (nautical).—Gently! A cry to signify smartly, but carefully. Also Handsomely over the bricks = Go cautiously.
Handsome-reward, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Handsome-reward. This, in advertisements, means a horse-whipping.
Handsprings. To chuck handsprings, verb. phr. (common).—To turn somersaults.
Handstaff, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick and Prick. [From that member of the flail which is held in the hands].
Handy. Handy as a pocket in a shirt, phr. (American).—Very convenient.
Handy-blows, (or cuffs), subs. (old).—Cuffs with the hand; fisticuffs; hence close quarters.
1603. Knolles, Hist. of the Turkes. If ever they came to handy-blows.