Hamster, ham′stėr, n. a genus of rodent mammals of the family Muridæ, having cheek-pouches reaching back almost to the shoulders. [Ger.]
Hamstring, ham′string, n. the great tendon at the back of the knee or hock of the hind-leg of a quadruped.—v.t. to lame by cutting the hamstring.
Han, han (Spens.), pl. of have.
Hanaper. See Hamper, n.
Hanaster, Hanster. See under Hanse.
Hance, hans, n. (naut.) a curved rise from a lower to a higher part—sometimes Hanch, Haunch: (archit.) the arc of smaller radius at the springing of an elliptical or many-centred arch—also Haunch. [O. Fr. hauce, haulce, rise.]
Hanch, hansh, v.i. and v.t. to snap at with the jaws.
Hand, hand, n. the extremity of the arm below the wrist: that which does the duty of a hand by pointing, as the hand of a clock: the fore-foot of a horse: a measure of four inches: an agent or workman: (pl.) work-people in a factory: performance, agency, co-operation: power or manner of performing: skill: possession: style of handwriting, sign-manual: side: direction: the set of cards held by a single player at whist, &c.: a single round at a game.—v.t. to give with the hand: to lead or conduct: (naut.) to furl, as sails.—ns. Hand′-bag, a bag for small articles, carried in the hand; Hand′-ball, the sport of throwing and catching a ball; Hand′-barr′ow, a barrow without a wheel, carried by men: Hand′-bas′ket, a small portable basket; Hand′-bell, a small bell held by the hand when rung, a table-bell; Hand′bill, a pruning-hook used in the hand: a bill or loose sheet with some announcement; Hand′book, a manual or book of reference: a guide-book for travellers; Hand′breadth, the breadth of a hand: a palm; Hand′-cart, a small cart drawn by hand.—adj. Hand′ed (Milt.), with hands joined: (Shak.) having a hand of a certain sort.—ns. Hand′er; Hand′fast, a firm grip, handle: a contract, esp. a betrothal.—adj. bound, espoused: tight-fisted.—adj. Hand′fasted, betrothed.—n. Hand′fasting, betrothal: a private or even probationary form of marriage.—adj. Hand′-foot′ed, having feet like hands, chiropod.—ns. Hand′ful, as much as fills the hand: a small number or quantity:—pl. Hand′fuls; Hand′-gall′op, an easy gallop, in which the speed of the horse is restrained by the bridle-hand; Hand′-glass, a glass or small glazed frame used to protect plants: a small mirror; Hand′-grenade′, a grenade to be thrown by the hand; Hand′grip, grasp, grip, close struggle; Hand′icuffs, Hand′ycuffs, fighting hand to hand.—adj. Hand′less, awkward.—ns. Hand-line, a fishing-line worked by hand without a rod; Hand′-list, a list for easy reference; Hand′-loom, a weaver's loom worked by hand, as distinguished from a power-loom.—adj. Hand′-made, manufactured by hand, not by a machine.—ns. Hand′maid, Hand′maiden, a female servant; Hand′-mill, a mill worked by hand for coffee, pepper, &c., a quern; Hand′-or′gan, a portable organ, played by means of a crank turned by the hand; Hand′-pā′per, a particular make of paper, early in use at the Record Office, with the water-mark of a hand pointing; Hand′-post, a finger-post, guide; Hand′-prom′ise, a form of betrothal amongst the Irish peasantry; Hand′rail, a rail supported by balusters, as in staircases, to hold by.—adv. phrase, Hand′-run′ning, straight on, continuously.—ns. Hand′-saw, a saw manageable by the hand—also the same as Hern′shaw, in the proverb, 'not to know a hawk from a handsaw;' Hand′-screen, a small screen used to protect the face from the heat of the fire or sun; Hand′-screw, an appliance for raising heavy weights, a jack; Hand′spike, a bar used with the hand as a lever.—n.pl. Hand′staves (B.), probably javelins.—ns. Hands′-turn, a helping hand, aid; Hand′work, work done by hand, as distinguished from machinery; Hand′writing, the style of writing peculiar to each person: writing.—adj. Hand′-wrought, made with the hands, not by machinery.—Hand and [in] glove (with), on very intimate terms; Hand down, to transmit in succession; Hand in hand, in union, conjointly; Hand of God, a term used for unforeseen unpreventable accidents, as lightning, tempest, &c.; Hand over hand, by passing the hands alternately one before or above the other; Hand over head, rashly; Hands down, with ease; Hands off! keep off! refrain from blows! Hands up, a bushranger's call to surrender; Hand to hand, at close quarters; Hand to mouth, without thought for the future, precariously.—A bird in the hand, any advantage at present held; A cool hand, a person not easily abashed; At any hand, In any hand (Shak.), at any rate, in any case; At first hand, from the producer or seller, or from the first source direct; At hand, near in place or time; At second hand, from an intermediate purchaser or source; Bear a hand, make haste to help; Bear in hand (Shak.), to keep in expectation; Be hand and glove, to be very intimate and familiar; Believed on all hands, generally believed; Bloody, or Red, hand, granted to baronets of Great Britain and Ireland in 1611; By the strong hand, by force; Cap in hand, humbly; Change hands, to pass from one owner to another; Come to one's hand, to be easy to do; Dead man's hand, Hand-of-glory, a charm to discover hidden treasure, &c., made from a mandrake root, or the hand of a man who has been executed, holding a candle; For one's own hand, on one's own account; From good hands, from a reliable source; Gain the upper hand, to obtain the mastery; Get one's hand in, to become familiar with.—Handwriting on the wall, any sign foreshadowing disaster (from Dan. v. 5).—Have a hand in, to be concerned in; Have clean hands, to be honest and incorruptible; Have full hands, to be fully occupied; Hold hand (Shak.), to compete successfully; Hold in hand, to restrain; In hand, as present payment: in preparation: under control; Kiss the hand, in token of submission; Lay hands on, to seize; Laying on of hands, the laying on of the hands of a bishop or presbyters in ordination; Lend a hand, to give assistance; Off-hand, Out of hand, at once, immediately, without premeditation; Off one's hands, no longer under one's responsible charge; Old hand, one experienced, as opposed to Young hand; On all hands, on all sides; On hand, ready, available: in one's possession; On one's hands, under one's care or responsibility; Poor hand, an unskilful one; Second-hand, inferior, not new; Set the hand to, to engage in, undertake; Show one's hand, to expose one's purpose to any one; Stand one's hand (slang), to pay for a drink to another; Strike hands, to make a contract; Take in hand, to undertake; Take off one's hands, to relieve of something troublesome; To one's hand, in readiness; Under one's hand, with one's proper signature attached; Wash one's hands (of), to disclaim the responsibility for anything (Matt. xxvii. 24); With a heavy hand, oppressively; With a high hand, without taking other people into consideration, audaciously. [A.S. hand; in all Teut. tongues, perh. rel. to Goth. hinthan, to seize.]
Handcuff, hand′kuf, n. esp. in pl. Hand′cuffs, shackles for the hand locked upon the wrists of a prisoner.—v.t. to put handcuffs on:—pr.p. hand′cuffing; pa.p. hand′cuffed (-kuft). [Hand and cuff.]
Handicap, hand′i-kap, v.t. to impose special disadvantages or impediments upon in order to offset advantages, and make a better contest—in a horse-race the superior horse carries a heavier weight, while foot-runners are placed at different distances, or start at different times: (fig.) to place at a disadvantage by some burden or disability.—n. any contest so adjusted, or the condition imposed.—n. Hand′icapper, one who handicaps. [Hand in the cap, from the usage in an ancient kind of sport and method of settling a bargain by arbitration.]