Part 701

Hand"i*craft (hnd"*krft), n. [For handcraft, influenced by handiwork; AS. handcrÊft.] 1. A trade requiring skill of hand; manual occupation; handcraft. Addison.

2. A man who earns his living by handicraft; a handicraftsman. [R.] Dryden.

Hand"i*crafts`man (-krfts`man), n.; pl. -men (- men). A man skilled or employed in handcraft. Bacon.

Hand"i*ly (-*l), adv. [See Handy.] In a handy manner; skillfully; conveniently.

Hand"i*ness, n. The quality or state of being handy.

Hand"i`ron (-`rn), n. See Andiron. [Obs.]

Hand"i*work` (-*w˚rk`), n. [OE. handiwerc, AS. handgeweorc; hand hand + geweorc work; prefix ge- + weorc. See Work.] Work done by the hands; hence, any work done personally.

The firmament showeth his handiwork.

Ps. xix. 1.

Hand"ker*cher (h"kr*chr), n. A handkerchief. [Obs. or Colloq.] Chapman (1654). Shak.

Hand"ker*chief (h"kr*chf; 277), n. [Hand + kerchief.] 1. A piece of cloth, usually square and often fine and elegant, carried for wiping the face or hands.

2. A piece of cloth shaped like a handkerchief to be worn about the neck; a neckerchief; a neckcloth.

Han"dle (hn"d'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handled (-d'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Handling(-dlng).] [OE. handlen, AS. handlian; akin to D. handelen to trade, G. handeln. See Hand.] 1. To touch; to feel with the hand; to use or hold with the hand.

Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh.

Luke xxiv. 39.

About his altar, handling holy things.

Milton.

2. To manage in using, as a spade or a musket; to wield; often, to manage skillfully.

That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper.

Shak.

3. To accustom to the hand; to work upon, or take care of, with the hands.

The hardness of the winters forces the breeders to house and handle their colts six months every year.

Sir W. Temple.

4. To receive and transfer; to have pass through one's hands; hence, to buy and sell; as, a merchant handles a variety of goods, or a large stock.

5. To deal with; to make a business of.

They that handle the law knew me not.

Jer. ii. 8.

6. To treat; to use, well or ill.