handy

English

/ˈhæn.di/

adj

Definitions

Easy to use, useful.
Nearby, within reach.
Of a person: dexterous, skilful.
(slang) Physically violent; tending to use one's fists.
Of a freight ship: having a small cargo capacity (less than 40,000 DWT); belonging to the handysize class.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English handy inherited from Old English hendiġ (skillful) inherited from Proto-Germanic *handugaz (skillful, handy, nimble) suffix from English hand (style of penmanship, handwriting).

Origin

English

hand

Gloss

style of penmanship, handwriting

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms

aforehand English
aircrafthand English
back-hand English
backhand English
backhanded English
barehand English
beforehand English
behand English
behindhand English
cam English
charge-hand English
chargehand English
clawhand English
clubhand English
counterhand English
cowhand English
deckhand English
derrickhand English
dockhand English
doublehand English
farmhand English
fieldhand English
firsthand English
floorhand English
forehand English
freehand English
gladhand English
gunhand English
hand English
hand axe English
hand towel English
hand-held English
hand-hole English
hand-to-mouth English
handback English
handbag English
handball English
handbarrow English
handbasin English
handbasket English
handbell English
handbike English
handbill English
handblocked English
handblown English
handbook English
handbound English
handbra English
handbrake English
handbreadth English
handbuilt English
handcar English
handcare English
handcarry English
handcart English
handclap English
handclapper English
handclapping English
handclasp English
handcloth English
handcraft English
handcrafted English
handcrafter English
handcrew English
handcuff English
handcuffs English
handcycle English
handegg English
hander English
handest English
handeth English
handfed English
handfeed English
handfish English
handflower English
handfucker English
handful English
handgame English
handgift English
handglide English
handglove English
handgrip English
handguard English
handguide English
handgun English
handhold English
handholdable English
handholding English
handhole English
handicam English
handily English
handiness English
handish English
handism English
handiwork English
handkerchief English
handknit English
handlamp English
handless English
handlike English
handline English
handlist English
handloading English
handlock English
handloom English
handly English
handmade English
handmaid English
handmaiden English
handmake English
handman English
handmark English
handmill English
handmirror English
handout English
handpainted English
handpass English
handphone English
handpick English
handpicked English
handpiece English
handplant English
handplay English
handpost English
handpress English
handprint English
handprinted English
handpump English
handrail English
handrailing English
handraised English
handroll English
handrope English
handsaw English
handsbreadth English
handscreened English
handscroll English
handsearching English
handseller English
handset English
handsewn English
handshake English
handshaker English
handshape English
handshoe English
handsies English
handsoap English
handsome English
handspan English
handspike English
handspring English
handspun English
handstamp English
handstand English
handstick English
handstitched English
handstone English
handstroke English
handstyle English
handtame English
handwalker English
handwarmer English
handwash English
handwasher English
handwashing English
handwave English
handwaving English
handweaver English
handweaving English
handweed English
handwell English
handwheel English
handwhile English
handwipe English
handwork English
handworked English
handworker English
handwoven English
handwringer English
handwrit English
handwrite English
handwriting English
handwritten English
handwrought English
handyish English
handyman English
handyperson English
handywoman English
kitchenhand English
knifehand English
leasehand English
longhand English
millhand English
motorhand English
newshand English
offhand English
on hand English
on-hand English
onhand English
overhand English
person English
ranchhand English
ridgehand English
right-hand English
roundhand English
shedhand English
shorthand English
side-hand English
sleevehand English
spacehand English
stablehand English
stagehand English
stronghand English
thirdhand English
toforehand English
trailhand English
underhand English
unhand English
unhandily English
unhandiness English
unhandy English
uphand English
woman English
Handy German
Handyspiel German
handyfrei German
hand Dutch, Flemish
handig Dutch, Flemish
handigheid Dutch, Flemish
onhandig Dutch, Flemish
*handugaz Proto-Germanic
händig Swedish
hendiġ Old English
handy Middle English
hond Middle English
hǫndugr Old Norse
*xǫdogъ Proto-Slavic
heng Indonesian
Handy Luxembourgish, Letzeburgesch
𐌷𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐌲𐌴𐌹 Gothic
𐌷𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐌲𐍃 Gothic
𐌷𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐌲𐍉𐌶𐌰 Gothic
𐌷𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐍃 Gothic
*handag Old Dutch
han Tok Pisin
hanpaus Tok Pisin
hanrait Tok Pisin
hanwas Tok Pisin
anu Sranan Tongo
an Torres Strait Creole
han Samoan Plantation Pidgin