handlen.¹

Brit.

/ˈhandl/, U.S.

/ˈhændəl/

Forms: Old English handla, Old English– handle, Middle English handdell, Middle English handele, Middle English handyl, Middle English handyll, Middle English handylle, Middle English hondel, Middle English hondil, Middle English hondlen (plural), Middle English–1500s handel, Middle English–1500s handell, Middle English–1500s handill, 1500s andell, 1500s handil, 1800s– han'le (Irish English (northern)), 1800s– hannel (English regional (northern)), 1800s– hondle (English regional (west midlands)); U.S. regional 1800s hanl, 1800s hannle, 1900s– han'le; Scottish pre-1700 1700s– handle, 1700s– handel, 1800s hanil, 1800s hannel, 1900s– haandle (Shetland), 1900s– hanle, 1900s– hannle, 1900s– haunnle, 1900s– hun'le (north-eastern). N.E.D. (1898) also records forms late Middle English andyll, late Middle English handil.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: hand n., -le suffix.

Etymology: < hand n. + -le suffix. Compare Old High German hantilla towel.In Old English probably a weak feminine (handle ); the form handla (attested as second element in the compound sulhhandla sullow-handle n. at sullow n. Compounds 2 (compare quot. OE at sense 1)) probably reflects the merger of unstressed a and e in the 11th cent. (compare A. Campbell Old Eng. Gram. (1959) §379), rather than showing a weak masculine.

1. A part of a thing by which it is to be held in order to use, move, or carry it; (hence) any part or object used in this way.axe-, broom-, door-, jug, knife-, plough, pump-handle, etc.: see the first element. Cf. also love handle n. at love n.¹ Compounds 6.In Old English rendering stiba, post-classical form of classical Latin stīva shaft of a plough handle (see stive n.⁶).

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [noun] > handle

handleeOE

helvec897

haftc1000

steal1377

start1380

handa1400

helmc1430

handlinga1450

pull1551

grasp1561

hilt1574

cronge1577

hold1578

tab1607

manubrium1609

tree1611

handfast1638

stock1695

handing1703

gripe1748

stem1796

handhold1797

grip1867

eOE Corpus Gloss. (1890) 110/2 Stiba, handle.

OE Antwerp-London Gloss. (2011) 45 Stiba, sulhhandla.

c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 556 (MED) He dude..fowre of his cnihtes forte turnen þet hweol wið hondlen imaket þron.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xix. 1374 Amphora haþ þat name of ansis ‘handel’, by þe whiche [it is] yhoue hider and þider.

?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 164 To smyte an hors with the handill of a whippe.

1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) i. iii–v. sig. aiiii He handled the swerd by the handels.

1542 T. Elyot Bibliotheca Enchiridion, a handle of a thynge.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 108^v The handles, or steales of husbandmens tooles.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. i. 34 Is this a Dagger, which I see before me, The Handle toward my Hand?

1686 C. Allen Physical Disc. Pulse in Operator for Teeth 50 A cartilagineous substance..incompasses the root of the Artery round about, as an iron-ring does the end of a handle.

1705 A. Dunton Wit's Exercise xxxix. 37 Take a Kettleful of Water, and hang the Handle upon the same [stick].

1798 J. Ferriar Illustr. Sterne vi. 177 Do you not consider what a handle a long beard affords to the enemy?

1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words Kit, properly a covered milking-pail with two handles.

1869 Med. Rec. Mar. 163/1 Afterwards, using this emerged point as a handle, the other end of the needle may be pulled down to the level of the artery.

1891 R. Routledge Discov. & Inventions 19th Cent. (ed. 8) 53 When the guide-stock is turned by the handles, the required grooves are cut out.

1916 Notions & Fancy Goods Apr. 33/2 Inside the bag is a lining of flesh pink satin and silver cords form the handle.

c1943 Everyday Things & their Story 109/1 From one or more of these improbable raw materials..the handles of our umbrellas, our toothbrushes, shaving brushes, hair brushes and other toilet gear [are made].

1971 L. Beckwith About my Father's Business (1973) xiv. 170 Father used to sing as he churned away at the handle of the mincing machine.

2008 S. Pope Dancing with Serpents xi. 70 He grabbed the handle of the door and pushed lightly to try and open it.

2. figurative. A means or opportunity of doing or dealing with something; esp. a way of controlling, managing, or understanding a person, situation, etc.; a fact or circumstance that may be taken advantage of. Also: one of two or more ways in which something may be understood or interpreted. Cf. to get a handle on at Phrases 4.In early use chiefly in figurative contexts.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [noun] > (a) means

keyOE

toolc1000

wherewithc1230

ministerc1380

meanc1390

instrumenta1425

organ?a1425

mesne1447

moyen1449

handlec1450

hackneya1500

receipta1500

operative1526

ingine1531

appliance1555

agent1579

matter1580

mids1581

wedge1581

wherewithal1583

shoeing-horn1587

engine1589

instrumental1598

Roaring Meg1598

procurement1601

organy1605

vehicle1615

vehiculuma1617

executioner1646

facility1652

operatory1660

instrumentality1663

expedient1665

agency1684

bladea1713

mechanic1924

mechanism1924

c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 65 (MED) Þi scope of penauns muste haue an handyll for to holde wyth þi scope in þin handys..þe handyll is satisfaccyoun.

1529 T. More Supplyc. Soulys ii. f. xxxvii He wold gladly cach hold of sum small handell to kepe hys money fast.

1633 G. Herbert Confession in Temple 119 Fiction Doth give a hold and handle to affliction.

1697 tr. F. Burgersdijck Monitio Logica ii. xiii. 56 A dilemma is..as it were a syllogism with two handles and catching one both ways.

1732 T. Lediard tr. J. Terrasson Life Sethos II. viii. 224 I would not give this handle to calumny.

1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives VI. 123 He took care to give her no handle against him.

1840 Tait's Edinb. Mag. June 391/2 This would..be taking the matter by the best handle, and allowing man to keep his undisturbed monopoly of the vices.

1876 W. E. Gladstone Homeric Synchronism 168 Where tradition afforded any sort of handle for the purpose.

1939 J. Colville Diary 9 Nov. in Fringes of Power (1985) 50 This may give a useful handle to those who think he is too old for the job and ought to retire.

1979 W. A. Jurgens Faith of Early Fathers 188 At any rate the phrase seems to have two handles and Jerome must have had a firm grip on both.

2001 Denver Post 18 Feb. i11/2 Most players have a handle on this, with respect to how good a hand or how good a suit you need to overcall at the one and two-level.

a. A structure resembling a handle. Cf. panhandle n. 1.In Anatomy and Botany = manubrium n. In quot. ?1731: the penis.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > ear > [noun] > flap or lobe

lapc1000

ear-lapOE

list1530

lippet1598

lug1602

lappet1609

handle1615

libbet1627

auricle1650

flip-flop1661

pinna1682

helix1684

lobe1719

earlobea1785

ear flap1810

leaf1819

shell1831

pavilion1842

ear bud1953

the world > life > the body > sex organs > male sex organs > [noun] > penis

weapona1000

tarsec1000

pintleOE

cock?c1335

pillicock?c1335

yard1379

arrowa1382

looma1400

vergea1400

instrumentc1405

fidcocka1475

privya1500

virile member (or yard)?1541

prickc1555

tool1563

pillock1568

penis1578

codpiece1584

needle1592

bauble1593

dildo1597

nag1598

virility1598

ferret1599

rubigo?a1600

Jack1604

mentula1605

virge1608

prependent1610

flute1611

other thing1628

engine1634

manhood1640

cod1650

quillity1653

rammer1653

runnion1655

pego1663

sex1664

propagator1670

membrum virile1672

nervea1680

whore-pipe1684

Roger1689

pudding1693

handle?1731

machine1749

shaft1772

jock1790

poker1811

dickyc1815

Johnny?1833

organ1833

intromittent apparatus1836

root1846

Johnson1863

Peter1870

John Henry1874

dickc1890

dingusc1890

John Thomasc1890

old fellowc1890

Aaron's rod1891

dingle-dangle1893

middle leg1896

mole1896

pisser1896

micky1898

baby-maker1902

old man1902

pecker1902

pizzle1902

willy1905

ding-dong1906

mickey1909

pencil1916

dingbatc1920

plonkerc1920

Johna1922

whangera1922

knob1922

tube1922

ding1926

pee-pee1927

prong1927

pud1927

hose1928

whang1928

dong1930

putz1934

porkc1935

wiener1935

weenie1939

length1949

tadger1949

winkle1951

dinger1953

winky1954

dork1961

virilia1962

rig1964

wee-wee1964

Percy1965

meat tool1966

chopper1967

schlong1967

swipe1967

chode1968

trouser snake1968

ding-a-ling1969

dipstick1970

tonk1970

noonies1972

salami1977

monkey1978

langer1983

wanker1987

1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια viii. xi. 576 Tully in his second Booke ad Quintum fratrem cals it [sc. the earlobe] Ansa Auriculae the handle of the ear.

1639 T. de Gray Compl. Horseman ii. i. 39 The Crocks and Handles of the scull.

1671 tr. A. de Courtin Rules Civility x. 94 A legg of Mutton is cut above the handle, by thrusting the knife as deep into it as one may.

?1731 ‘Hurlo Thrumbo’ Merry-thought: Pt. 1 16 For Want of his Handle, [she] Made use of a Candle.

1795 A. Fyfe Syst. Anat. & Physiol. (rev. ed.) II. iv. i. 145 The malleus, the handle of which is closely joined to the inside of the membrane.

1830 E. Griffith et al. Cuvier's Animal Kingdom XI. 216 From the hinder paries of the long cavity proceeds a muscular filament, which is attached to the handle of the bone.

1895 F. W. Oliver et al. tr. A. Kerner von Marilaun Nat. Hist. Plants II. 63 The stalk-cell projecting from the plate [of the antheridium of a stonewort] has hence been called the ‘manubrium’ or handle.

1932 A. Bell Cherry Tree xi. 159 Here..was a thorn that grew complete with a queer knobby handle.

1961 O. Nash Coll. Verse 60 Elephants are useful friends, They have handles on both ends.

2005 A. Stalker & A. Nolan Sea Kayak Paddling through Hist. vi. 92/1 This island used to have a ‘handle’ of rock and dirt but in the mid-1800s the handle fell into the sea.

b. slang. The nose. Chiefly in handle to (also of, on) one's face. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > nose > [noun]

noseeOE

naseeOE

nebeOE

billa1000

nesec1175

grunyie?a1513

gnomon1582

nib1585

proboscis1631

handle to (also of, on) one's face1675

snot-gall1685

nozzle1689

bowsprit1690

smeller1699

snitch1699

trunk1699

vessel1813

index1817

conk1819

sneezer1820

scent box1826

snorter1829

snuff-box1829

bugle1847

beak1854

nasal1854

sniffer1858

boko1859

snoot1861

snorer1891

horn1893

spectacles-seat1895

razzo1899

beezer1915

schnozzle1926

schnozzola1929

schnozz1930

snozzle1930

honker1942

hooter1958

1675 R. Head Nugæ Venales (ed. 2) 74 Judge you Master..whether I can blow my Nose, having lost the handle of my Face.

1708 P. A. Motteux Wks. F. Rabelais v. v Carbuncles..which undermine the Handles of their Faces.

1751 A. Hamilton in E. G. Breslaw Rec. Tuesday Club Annapolis (1988) i. 271 Furnished with very large handles to their faces.

1811 Lexicon Balatronicum (at cited word) The cove flashes a rare handle to his physog; the fellow has a large nose.

1876 Godey's Lady's Bk. Apr. 364/1 She had a handle on her face by way of a nose that was something astonishing.

1915 J. B. Graham Handset Reminisc. 80 The fine, aquiline handle to his face was always very red.

a. colloquial. More fully a handle to one's name. A title of rank, honour, respect, or profession; spec. (chiefly British) a title of noble rank.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > [noun]

nameeOE

dignityc1290

titlea1398

stylea1400

addition1472

a handle to one's name1822

1822 J. Mitford My Cousin in Army iv. 105 The men..With pretty handles to their names;—The Hons. and Barts. and K.C.B.'s.

1826 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 677/1 Sir, ‘—that's the handle of my Sunday's name, you must know, my lads—hem.’

1886 Illustr. London News 23 Jan. 94/3 Very distinguished young women, with handles to their names.

1902 M. Manning Ld. Alingham, Bankrupt ix. 70 One woman with a title is equal to two without. The handle is to the woman what the claws are to the cat.

1948 B. M. Myers & F. N. Myers Home is Sailor xiii. 165 They..pull out cards full of M.A.'s and Ph.D.'s and all sorts of other fancy handles.

1986 Observer 19 Oct. 9/7 Long-serving Tory backbenchers..who are likely to be given a handle to their names.

2011 Times Higher Educ. Suppl. (Nexis) 3 Feb. 30 Readerships..are not attractive to managers because they do not give a handle to one's name.

b. slang (originally U.S.). A personal name; a nickname; spec. an identifying nickname used by a CB radio operator or (later) a user of an online forum, etc. Cf. moniker n. 1.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > naming > name or appellation > [noun] > nickname or additional name

to-namec950

eke-name1303

surnamec1330

bynamec1374

nickname1440

addition1472

epitheton1570

by-term1579

epithet1579

agnomination1590

adjunct1598

apathaton1598

byword1598

nurse-name1605

familiar name1611

suradditiona1616

sobriquet1646

agname1652

last name1695

agnomen1809

cognomen1811

soubriquet1818

nickery1823

handle1838

cognomination1843

moniker1851

eponym1863

adname1890

tag1961

1838 J. C. Neal Charcoal Sketches 116 They were satisfied that a sonorous handle to one's patronymic acts like a balloon to its owner.

1870 J. C. Duval Adventures Big-Foot Wallace xxxviii. 236 I would rather be called ‘Big-Foot Wallace’ than ‘Lying Wallace’... Such handles to my name would not be agreeable.

1927 Dial. Notes 5 449 Whut's yer handle?

1956 N. Algren Walk on Wild Side i. 75 The name is Kitty Twist..not my real handle of course. It's just what they took to callin' me in The Home.

1964 D. Varaday Gara-Yaka xx. 180 One was Toothless Annie... She had come by her ‘handle’ when a hysterical grass-eater had kicked her teeth in.

1976 C. Whelton CB Baby 17 My handle. My CB name. You got to have a handle if you want to talk on CB.

1991 S. Barry Prayers of Sherkin ii, in Plays: One (1997) 93 Jesse, is that his handle?

2011 Vanity Fair Apr. 176/1 Most members of Anonymous..are..posting under deadpanned handles like Coldblood and Tux.

5. A small basket with a handle, in which soft fruit is packed for the market. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > container for food > [noun] > basket > for fruit or vegetables

fraila1382

top1440

tapnet1524

fig-frail1608

flat1640

raisin frail1669

chip basket1758

pottle1771

sievea1800

punnet1822

trug1836

bodge1876

molly1883

handle1900

society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > basket > [noun] > small

fiscelle1483

kipsey1615

ridicule basket1819

punnet1822

reticule basket1822

handle1900

1900 Daily Express 30 June 5/5 French red currants reached 1s. 3d. a basket or ‘handle’.

6. New Zealand. A glass beer mug with a handle, (formerly) one holding two thirds of a pint; (also) as much beer as this holds.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > the scientific measurement of volume > measure(s) of capacity > [noun] > liquid measure of capacity > specific units of liquid measure > pint

pint1378

wine-pint1770

reputed pint1787

Paris pint1795

pt.1850

handle1909

the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > drinking vessel > [noun] > glass

glassc888

verrea1382

Venice glass1527

rummer1625

bottle glass1626

Malaga glassa1627

flute1649

flute-glass1668

long glass1680

mum-glass1684

toasting glass1703

wine glass1709

tulip-glass1755

tun-glass1755

water glass1779

tumbler-glass1795

Madeira glass1801

tumbling glass1803

noggin glass1805

champagne glass1815

table glass1815

balloon glass1819

copita1841

firing glass1842

nobbler1842

thimble glass1843

wine1848

liqueur-glass1850

straw-stem1853

pokal1854

goblet1856

mousseline1862

pony glass1862

long-sleever1872

cocktail glass1873

champagne flute1882

yard-glass1882

sleever1896

tea-glass1898

liqueur1907

dock-glass1911

toast-master glass1916

Waterford1916

stem-glass1922

Pilsner glass1923

Amen glass1924

ballon1930

balloon goblet1931

thistle glass1935

snifter1937

balloon1951

shot-glass1955

handle1956

tulip1961

schooner1967

champagne fountain1973

the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > drinking vessel > [noun] > vessel for specific liquor

ale bowl1420

caudle cup1610

stein1855

sack-pot1857

champagne saucer1861

chirper1862

bombilla1866

krug1866

handle1956

1909 N.Z. Truth 29 May 7 What was 'Arry's lotion? Did he have ‘a handle’ of beer every time, or just a drop o' Scotch?

1938 R. Finlayson Brown Man's Burden 40 ‘A handle of beer,’ Mr. Puttle was saying easily to the barman.

1956 N.Z. Listener 8 June in J. Reid Kiwi Laughs (1961) 204 They still drink beer out of handles, sixpence a pop.

2001 K. Duignan Breakwater 86 He orders another handle of beer.

7. U.S. Gambling. The total amount of money bet on a particular event, or over a particular period of time.

ΚΠ

1932 Chicago Tribune 20 May ii. 23/1 The total handle at Chicago tracks..is said to be less than half of what it was in boom times.

1948 Baltimore Sun 26 Nov. 19/1 Mutuel manager Tommy O'Hara announced a handle of $1,337,466 at the end of the holiday program.

1974 Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) 13 Oct. c14/6 During the summer meeting we experienced the highest handle ever for a meeting in the history of the track.

1992 Esquire Feb. 63/1 Betting on football..reaches its zenith come Super Bowl Sunday. Just in Nevada..the local handle for last year's event was $40 million and change.

2004 Time 31 May 81/1 The Preakness Stakes, which the chestnut colt from Philly won by 13.5 lengths, carried a record $59 million handle.

Phrases

In various figurative colloquial phrases.

P1. to throw the handle after the hatchet and variants: to gamble everything, having already gambled or lost part; to commit oneself totally in a risky venture; = to throw the helve after the hatchet at helve n. 1b.

ΚΠ

1664 Duchess of Newcastle CCXI Sociable Lett. xli. 85 They fling the Handle after the Hatchet.

?1797 tr. J.-M. Leprince de Beaumont Dialogues for Sunday Evenings I. 198 I doubt if one oath should escape me I shall be apt to throw the handle after the hatchet, as they say.

1853 H. Bleby Death Struggles of Slavery v. 38 It was only inflicting further wrong upon the..proprietors, to allow the hot-headed militia thus to ‘throw the handle after the hatchet’.

1884 Zion's Herald 13 Feb. 50/6 To what end should they so plague themselves? The pietistic pessimists have hurled the handle after the hatchet.

1921 Manch. Guardian 28 Jan. 4/3 The [Welsh rugby union] Selection Committee have made a clean sweep of the back division, but have not thrown the handle after the hatchet by rejecting J. Rees.

2012 Kerryman (County Kerry) (Nexis) 13 June It might now be the time to go for more emphasis on youth and throw the handle after the hatchet.

P2. U.S. (up) to the handle: all the way; thoroughly, completely; up to the hilt. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [phrase] > thoroughly or to the utmost

to the uttermostc1400

to (also unto) (the) outrancec1425

up to the hilt ( hilts)1598

(up) to the handle1824

to the hilt1950

1824 Coll. Hist. & Misc. Nov. 348 Some of his expressions were that ‘old Capt. Miles was clear grit’ ‘spunk up to the handle’, &c.

1833 Louisville (Kentucky) Public Advertiser 9 May He is determined to carry the contest ‘to the handle’.

1855 Knickerbocker 45 435 He was enjoying his trip ‘up to the handle’.

1877 J. Habberton Jericho Road xi. 101 If he isn't playin' possum right up to the handle, then he is a fool.

1910 J. C. Lincoln Depot Master i. 5 The place was mortgaged up to the handle.

1946 Dunkirk (N.Y.) Evening Observer 11 Jan. 14/3 I have never yet found a Nisei who did not do his full duty right up to the handle.

P3. With reference to the head of an axe or other tool becoming detached from its handle.

a. Originally U.S. off the handle: emotionally or mentally unstable; in a state of strong emotion; uncontrolled.

ΚΠ

1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. iv. 107 How they [sc. the Indians] pulled foot, when they seed us commin'. Most off the handle, some o' the tribe, I guess.

1851 H. D. Thoreau Jrnl. 7 June (1990) III. 244 I am off the handle as the phrase is—I begin to be transcendental and show where my heart is.

1882 in J. W. Bixler Decisions Dept. Interior (1903) XIII. 505 Ernest..stated soldier was ‘off the handle half the time’.

1915 A. Conan Doyle Valley of Fear i. v. 82 A kind of wave of jealousy would pass over him and he would be off the handle and saying the wildest things in a moment.

1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1961) 302 That was enough to set her completely off the handle. She said we were making fun of her.

2005 Liverpool Echo (Nexis) 23 Dec. 3 I'm a bit more laid-back and not so off-the-handle.

b. Originally U.S. to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle: to become carried away by excitement; to lose self-control; (now usually) to lose one's temper, esp. suddenly and violently.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry

wrethec900

wrothc975

abelghec1300

to move one's blood (also mood)c1330

to peck moodc1330

gremec1460

to take firea1513

fumec1522

sourdc1540

spitec1560

to set up the heckle1601

fire1604

exasperate1659

to fire up1779

to flash up1822

to get one's dander up1831

to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832

to have (also get) one's monkey up1833

to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837

rile1837

to go off the handle1839

to flare up1840

to set one's back up1845

to run hot1855

to wax up1859

to get one's rag out1862

blow1871

to get (also have) the pricker1871

to turn up rough1872

to get the needle1874

to blaze up1878

to get wet1898

spunk1898

to see red1901

to go crook1911

to get ignorant1913

to hit the ceiling1914

to hit the roof1921

to blow one's top1928

to lose one's rag1928

to lose one's haira1930

to go up in smoke1933

hackle1935

to have, get a cob on1937

to pop (also blow) one's cork1938

to go hostile1941

to go sparec1942

to do one's bun1944

to lose one's wool1944

to blow one's stack1947

to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950

rear1953

to get on ignorant1956

to go through the roof1958

to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964

to lose ita1969

to blow a gasket1975

to throw a wobbler1985

1832 Boston Investigator 13 July He soon had a call at Cincinnati, Ohio, as president of a theological college, and, of course, flew off the handle.

1860 M. Halstead Hist. National Polit. Convent. 47 He is full of fire and prone to fly off the handle.

1898 R. Kipling Day's Work 89 How are we to do our work if you fly off the handle that way?

1911 C. W. Tyler Scout xxii. 208 ‘Whoever said it told a damn lie,’ cried Bob flying off at the handle.

1963 L. Spigelgass Dear me, Sky is Falling i. 19 You always jump off the handle!.. There's the door—slam it!

1978 J. G. MacGregor John Rowand iii. 32 Robertson, flying off the handle, refused to take any responsibility in this situation where all his advice was rejected.

2010 Jewish Chron. 8 Oct. 20/4 I do fly off the handle in real life—in boardroom situations, or when I get angry with inefficiency.

c. to go off the handle.

(a) Originally U.S. = to fly off the handle at Phrases 3b.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry

wrethec900

wrothc975

abelghec1300

to move one's blood (also mood)c1330

to peck moodc1330

gremec1460

to take firea1513

fumec1522

sourdc1540

spitec1560

to set up the heckle1601

fire1604

exasperate1659

to fire up1779

to flash up1822

to get one's dander up1831

to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832

to have (also get) one's monkey up1833

to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837

rile1837

to go off the handle1839

to flare up1840

to set one's back up1845

to run hot1855

to wax up1859

to get one's rag out1862

blow1871

to get (also have) the pricker1871

to turn up rough1872

to get the needle1874

to blaze up1878

to get wet1898

spunk1898

to see red1901

to go crook1911

to get ignorant1913

to hit the ceiling1914

to hit the roof1921

to blow one's top1928

to lose one's rag1928

to lose one's haira1930

to go up in smoke1933

hackle1935

to have, get a cob on1937

to pop (also blow) one's cork1938

to go hostile1941

to go sparec1942

to do one's bun1944

to lose one's wool1944

to blow one's stack1947

to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950

rear1953

to get on ignorant1956

to go through the roof1958

to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964

to lose ita1969

to blow a gasket1975

to throw a wobbler1985

1839 Cleveland (Ohio) Daily Herald 13 Dec. If you have [seen a duck swim a mill-dam] you can git some idea how the lazy coot danced. I thought I should go off the handle tu see him.

1888 R. Kipling Phantom 'Rickshaw 2 Pansay went off the handle,..all that nonsense about ghosts developed.

1910 C. E. Mulford Hopalong Cassidy ix. 63 He'll go off th' handle one of these days, for he hates Greasers worse'n I do.

1968 W. Graham Crimson Hairs i. 9 There would be nothing unusual in your having an affair with this man,..[and] your husband going off the handle completely and killing the guy.

1995 C. Bateman Cycle of Violence xi. 195 My dad went off the handle, really off the handle, after everything that had happened.

†(b) U.S. To die. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)]

forsweltc888

sweltc888

adeadeOE

deadc950

wendeOE

i-wite971

starveOE

witea1000

forfereOE

forthfareOE

forworthc1000

to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE

queleOE

fallOE

to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE

to shed (one's own) blood?a1100

diec1135

endc1175

farec1175

to give up the ghostc1175

letc1200

aswelta1250

leavea1250

to-sweltc1275

to-worthc1275

to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290

finea1300

spilla1300

part?1316

to leese one's life-daysa1325

to nim the way of deathc1325

to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330

flit1340

trance1340

determinec1374

disperisha1382

to go the way of all the eartha1382

to be gathered to one's fathers1382

miscarryc1387

shut1390

goa1393

to die upa1400

expirea1400

fleea1400

to pass awaya1400

to seek out of lifea1400–50

to sye hethena1400

tinea1400

trespass14..

espirec1430

to end one's days?a1439

decease1439

to go away?a1450

ungoc1450

unlivec1450

to change one's lifea1470

vade1495

depart1501

to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513

to decease this world1515

to go over?1520

jet1530

vade1530

to go westa1532

to pick over the perch1532

galpa1535

to die the death1535

to depart to God1548

to go home1561

mort1568

inlaikc1575

shuffle1576

finish1578

to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587

relent1587

unbreathe1589

transpass1592

to lose one's breath1596

to make a die (of it)1611

to go offa1616

fail1623

to go out1635

to peak over the percha1641

exita1652

drop1654

to knock offa1657

to kick upa1658

to pay nature her due1657

ghost1666

to march off1693

to die off1697

pike1697

to drop off1699

tip (over) the perch1699

to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703

sink1718

vent1718

to launch into eternity1719

to join the majority1721

demise1727

to pack off1735

to slip one's cable1751

turf1763

to move off1764

to pop off the hooks1764

to hop off1797

to pass on1805

to go to glory1814

sough1816

to hand in one's accounts1817

to slip one's breatha1819

croak1819

to slip one's wind1819

stiffen1820

weed1824

buy1825

to drop short1826

to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839

to get one's (also the) call1839

to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840

to unreeve one's lifeline1840

to step out1844

to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845

to hand in one's checks1845

to go off the handle1848

to go under1848

succumb1849

to turn one's toes up1851

to peg out1852

walk1858

snuff1864

to go or be up the flume1865

to pass outc1867

to cash in one's chips1870

to go (also pass over) to the majority1883

to cash in1884

to cop it1884

snuff1885

to belly up1886

perch1886

to kick the bucket1889

off1890

to knock over1892

to pass over1897

to stop one1901

to pass in1904

to hand in one's marble1911

the silver cord is loosed1911

pip1913

to cross over1915

conk1917

to check out1921

to kick off1921

to pack up1925

to step off1926

to take the ferry1928

peg1931

to meet one's Maker1933

to kiss off1935

to crease it1959

zonk1968

cark1977

to cark it1979

to take a dirt nap1981

1848 Floridian 1 Apr. 1/5 A distant and wealthy relative, who ‘Went off the handle’ in England, rather unexpectedly.

1872 O. W. Holmes Poet at Breakfast-table x. 331 My old gentleman means to be Mayor..before he goes off the handle.

P4. Originally U.S. to get a handle on and variants: to gain control or influence over (a person or situation); to acquire the means of understanding or dealing with (someone or something).

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > get into one's or its control

temea1387

to take hold1577

to lay, fasten a gripe on, upona1586

amenage1590

to get (a person, etc.) where the hair is short1872

cinch1875

to get a handle on1901

to sew up1904

1901 Mt. Holyoke Dec. 174 We 're on the track of a find... Thought I'd try to get a handle on it for you, dontcherknow, Halliwell.

1928 Amazing Stories Aug. 421/1 You can get a handle of some kind on any living man.

1966 Pop. Sci. Apr. 120/1 How can we get a good handle on space-flight hazards?

1988 D. French Working (1991) ix. 284 I usually tried to focus on something the client had some pride in—his occupation, his apartment, his appearance, his hobby. Anything I could get a handle on.

2006 P. Williams Rise & Fall Yummy Mummy lxii. 275 The lie hurts. But I can't explain the truth, partly because I haven't got a handle on it myself.

Compounds

C1. attributive.

a. With the sense ‘relating to, situated at, or forming a handle’.

handle end n.

ΚΠ

1658 G. Atwell Faithfull Surveyour xxix. 94 Having fastened your haling-line both to the crone and to the stale of it, by knitting a knot at the handle-end.

1771 P. Luckombe Hist. & Art of Printing 402 He rears up the Handle end of his Galley with his left hand.

1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 325 The patterns he puts at the handle-end of his swords.

1999 Mirror 15 June 24/3 To avoid damaging your hair when backcombing, use the handle end of a tail comb to separate out a small section of hair with the other end.

handle hand n.

ΚΠ

1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. i. 16 You must dip your Handle-hand, and mount your end hand a little.

1895 G. A. Sala Thorough Good Cook (1896) 237 Practised hands slant the pan downwards from the handle, taking care, however, that the best of the fire is beneath the upper or handle hand.

2009 J. K. Haverington How to make Slingbow 36 Extend the handle hand out to arms length and at the same time be pulling the draw-string tight.

handle piece n.

ΚΠ

1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales I. 45 Ash for the bottom or handle-piece.

1917 Libr. Jrnl. Dec. 967/2 We made a stretcher-box by nailing two long handlepieces to the sides of a packing box.

2006 Rowing News Oct. 49 I filled in the space between the inside of the handle piece and the outside of the blade piece with a strip of plastic.

handle stick n.

ΚΠ

1879 Colonies & India 1 Mar. 4/1 A supply of ordinary paper umbrellas..are dropped over the tree, the handle-stick being pushed down through its centre.

1925 Pop. Sci. Monthly Feb. 119/1 The baseboard is nailed to the handle stick, as shown, and the tins are nailed or screwed to the base.

2005 D. Mcallester in J. T. Titon Worlds of Music ii. 59 The peyote rattle is made with a small gourd mounted on a handle stick.

b. With the sense ‘having a handle’.

handle cup n.

ΚΠ

1698 in H. R. Janisch Extracts St. Helena Rec. (1908) 64 Ye said lady had one handle cup, one porenger, one large sault and one tumbler.

1774 H. Walpole Descr. Villa Strawberry-Hill 16 Six coloured handle cups and saucers..of Chantilli china.

1880 Legislative Doc. 18th Gen. Assembly Iowa 548 2 dozen handle cups... 2 dozen goblets.

2008 D. M. Cornish Lamplighter x. 187 ‘Fetch that handle cup.’ He..pointed to a ladle lying by a puncheon of water.

handle net n.

ΚΠ

1876 W. Renton Oils & Water-colours 68 The fisher is holding his handle-net.

1910 Field & Stream Aug. 17 a/1 (advt.) It will carry any collapsible two piece handle net.

2011 M. J. Killingsworth Going Back to Galveston 29 He calls in Spanish to a young girl who wades out with a handle net.

C2.

† handleband n. Obsolete rare (historical in later use) a material used for binding the edges of mats, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from flax, hemp, or jute > [noun] > other

handleband1532

burlap1695

hop-bagging1705

gunny1711

burrass1808

Hessian1881

hop-sacking1884

1532 in J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices (modernized text) III. 568/2 Handleband. 99lb..@ /4.

1882 in J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices IV. 578 The edges of these mats appear to have been bound with a material called handleband, which..is probably coarse hempen tape.

handle dish n. chiefly English regional (Sussex) (rare) a bowl or dish having a handle; spec. one used to take water out of a boiler.

ΚΠ

1875 W. D. Parish Dict. Sussex Dial. 53 Handle-dish, a bowl with a handle.

1983 Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, Indiana) 23 Nov. 12/3 Primitives and collectibles... Handle basket, Goofus dish, handle dish.

1994 C. Upton et al. Surv. Eng. Dial.: Dict. & Gram. Handle-dish, a scoop used to take water out of a boiler [Durham, Sussex].

handle-bound adj. rare †(a) tied to or round a handle (obsolete); (b) having a handle bound with cord, etc.

ΚΠ

1675 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ (ed. 2) xii. 257 You must be sure that your Hooks be strong, and your Lines may be of good, fine and strong handle-bound Pack-thread.

1905 Bystander 21 June 614/2 (advt.) Four best octagon handle-bound mallets.

Derivatives

ˈhandleless adj. without a handle.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [adjective] > handle or stock > provided with > not

unstaved1481

handleless1825

unhafted1894

1825 N. M. Hentz Tadeuskund ii. 18 A head-piece, in the shape of a handleless frying-pan.

1921 Pop. Mech. May Contents 3/1 Automobile, Handleless door has wire operated latch.

2002 S. Goss Brit. Tea & Coffee Cups 4 The attractive and delicate porcelain spouted pots and handleless cups brought from China were much admired.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

handlen.²

Brit.

/ˈhandl/, U.S.

/ˈhændəl/

Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: handle v.¹

Etymology: < handle v.¹

The way that goods, esp. textiles, feel to the touch when handled.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > quality of being tangible > [noun] > sensation produced by object touched

touchingc1325

gripe1632

feel1739

handle1823

handling1824

hand1949

1823 New Monthly Mag. 9 244/2 The heating woollen cloths after the wool or pile is raised by dressing..closing the texture of the cloth, and giving it a soft handle.

1869 Rep. Royal Comm. Water Supply 300/1 Cleansing your articles in order to give them a better handle.

1898 Daily News 7 Mar. 2/1 For softness and beautiful handle they have no equal.

1927 T. Woodhouse Artificial Silk: Manuf. & Uses 2 The handle of many artificial silk articles of commerce compares favourably with that of most of the corresponding textures in the other branches of the textile industry.

1961 Times 26 Oct. p. iv A new type of paper..which had all the qualities—good surface and opacity, good colour and crispness of ‘handle’.

2001 Techn. Guide (YHA Adventure Shops) Summer 7/1 Modern waterproof garments..come in a wide variety of materials; there is considerable variation between them in terms of breathability, durability, handle etc.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

handlev.¹

Brit.

/ˈhandl/, U.S.

/ˈhændəl/

Forms: Old English handlian, late Old English andlian, early Middle English handeli (south-western), early Middle English handli (south-western), early Middle English hanlie (south-west midlands), early Middle English hanndlenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English heondle (south-west midlands), early Middle English hondli (south-west midlands), early Middle English hondlie (south-west midlands), Middle English handly (southern), Middle English hondel, Middle English hondele, Middle English hondle, Middle English 1600s hanle, Middle English–1500s handele, Middle English–1500s handelle, Middle English–1500s handil, Middle English–1500s handill, Middle English–1500s handyl, Middle English–1500s handyll, Middle English–1500s handylle, Middle English–1600s handel, Middle English–1600s handell, Middle English– handle; English regional (northern and north midlands) 1800s– han'le, 1800s– hannel, 1800s– hann'l, 1800s– hannle, 1800s– hann'le; Scottish pre-1700 handall, pre-1700 handell, pre-1700 handil, pre-1700 handill, pre-1700 handille, pre-1700 handyll, pre-1700 hanel, pre-1700 hanteil, pre-1700 1700s– handle, pre-1700 1700s– hanle, pre-1700 (1900s– Shetland) handel, 1800s han'le, 1800s hannle, 1800s hawnle, 1800s– haunle, 1900s– haandle (Shetland), 1900s– hannel, 1900s– haunel.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian handelia to treat (a person) in a specified way, to negotiate, to do, carry out (an action) (West Frisian handelje , hannelje , in same senses as the modern Dutch verb cited below), Old Dutch handalon to treat (a person) badly (Middle Dutch handelen also to touch or feel (something) with the hand or hands, to take (something) in the hand or hands, to treat (a person or subject) in a specified way, (used reflexively) to behave, Dutch handelen , also to trade (1573)), Old Saxon handlon to touch or feel (something) with the hand or hands (Middle Low German handelen , also to do, carry out (an action), to deal with (a subject), to treat (a person) in a specified way, to behave in a specified way, to trade), Old High German hantolōn , handelōn to take (something) in the hands, to touch (something) with the hands, to treat (a person) in a specified way (Middle High German handeln , also to do, carry out (an action), to deal with, treat (a subject), German handeln , also to trade (15th cent.)), Old Icelandic hǫndla to lay hold of, and also Old Swedish handla (Swedish handla ), Old Danish hanlæ (Danish handle ), the senses of which parallel, and are largely after, the senses of the Middle Low German and German verbs, all < the Germanic base of hand n. + the Germanic base of -le suffix 3 (compare similarly kneel v.).In Old English the prefixed form gehandlian i-handle v. is also attested, in sense ‘to treat in speech or writing, to discuss’ (compare sense 6). In Dutch and German, the senses in branch II. are now usually expressed by the prefixed verbs Dutch behandelen (1624; rare before late 18th cent.) and German behandeln (18th cent.) respectively; compare be- prefix. With sense 9 perhaps compare the specific sense ‘to trade’ of Dutch handelen and German handeln (see above), and also earlier handler n.¹

I. To manipulate, manage.

a. transitive. To touch or feel with the hand or hands; to pick up, hold, turn over, etc., in the hand or hands; to use the hands on for some purpose.to handle without gloves, to handle without mittens: see the nouns.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] > examine by

gropec1000

handleOE

tastec1290

feela1400

grob1654

explore1689

grubblea1690

pouter1808

palpate1850

fingle1907

OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xxvii. 12 Gyf min fæder me handlað [L. adtractaverit] & me gecnæwð, ic ondræde þæt he wene þæt ic hyne wylle beswican.

OE Poenitentiale Pseudo-Egberti (Laud) iii. 12 Hit alyfed nis þæt ænig læwede wif..godes geryno on cristes weofode handlian sceole.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 18913 Þatt menn himm mihhtenn cnawenn. & hanndlenn himm.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 235 Clerkes y-hoded..handleþ and be-takeþ to hare honden þe þinges þet byeþ y-halȝed.

c1410 (c1350) Gamelyn (Harl. 7334) l. 82 [He] bygan wiþ his hond to handlen his berde.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 203 He..handeled the kynge so harde that he crusshed his rybbes.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 578/1 She can handell a chylde dayntely.

1556 Digest Decisions Justiciary Court B. 128, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Handil Handling hir sa vncorteslie swa that he brak hir bak.

1566 J. Barthlet Pedegrewe Heretiques f. 20^v They which bene in the same orders, doe handle the consecrated vessels and holy Sacramentes.

1656 J. Evelyn Ess. 1st Bk. Lucretius 128 Our Poet goes on to illustrate his former assertion..by the curious decrement of such things as we continually touch and handle.

1717 tr. A. F. Frézier Voy. South-Sea 118 I have handled and felt it.

1766 Ann. Reg. 1765 113/1 The bricks are often brought to the bricklayers, before they are cold enough to be handled.

1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Reissil, to make a loud clattering noise, as if one were breaking what is handled.

1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 164 The first point..handled is the end of the rump at the tail head.

1888 J. W. Burgon Lives Twelve Good Men I. i. 41 It is impossible to handle these volumes without the deepest interest.

1910 ‘Westerner’ Handling Hog from Start to Finish 33 The ‘green meat’ inspector..handles every ham and inspects it, and then throws it into the box to which it belongs.

1944 Newsweek 26 June 80 A new industrial disease called bagasse was reported..among sugarcane workers who handled..the fibrous material.

1971 L. Koppett N.Y. Times Guide Spectator Sports ii. 48 The quarterback now handles the ball on every play.

2011 Western Times (Queensland) (Nexis) 30 June 7 Handle the seedlings with the greatest of care.

†b. intransitive. To touch or hold with the hand or hands; to exercise the faculty of touching. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (intransitive)]

gropec825

handlea1300

taste1377

grappe1382

grasp1382

grubblea1690

a1300 Passion our Lord 607 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 54 (MED) Hondleþ nv and iseoþ þat gost naueþ none bon Ne vleys.

a1425 (a1400) Titus & Vespasian l. 1532 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1904) 112 30 (MED) Wiþ mowþe to taste drynke and mete..Wiþ hondes to handel, with feet to go.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cxiii. 15 [cxv. 7] They haue handes and handle not.

1614 J. Norden Load-starre to Spirituall Life To Rdr. sig. A8^v The eare to heare, the eye to behold, the hand to handle, the mind to consider, and the will to embrace.

1749 D. Hartley Observ. Man i. iii. 386 A Brute is supposed to speak..or to handle.

1832 Philos. Mag. Mar. 174 The organ instantaneously acts, whether it be the hand to handle, the foot to walk [etc.].

c. transitive. To accustom (a horse or occasionally other animal) to being touched and controlled, as part of a taming or training process. Cf. break v. 14a. Now rare.

ΚΠ

?1555 T. Paynell tr. J. L. Vives Office of Husband sig. Niij^v The Breaker of horsses..doeth handle the rough and sturdy colte with all crafte & fearcenes that maye be.

1566 T. Blundeville Bredynge of Horses iv. f. 4^v, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe You may begyn to handle your horse when he is full .ii. yeares olde.

1621 G. Markham Hungers Preuention 269 When you haue thus made a good election of your Dogge, you shall beginne to handle and instruct him at foure monethes olde.

?1673 W. Temple Ess. Advancement Trade Irel. 23 The hardness of the Winters..forces the breeders there to house and handle their Colts for at least six months every year.

1703 J. Moore Englands Interest 77 It is therefore your Business to Handle and tame all your stud Mares.

1818 ‘W. H. Scott’ Sportsman's Cal. 132 Foals are weaned at the end of the grass season, and should be handled and headstalled as soon as possible.

1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer 93 I'll do nothing but handle him [sc. a horse] to-day.

1907 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 31 Aug. 3/6 The affording of time and means to properly handle and break young horses [etc.].

d. transitive. To hold and incite (a gamecock, dog, etc.) in a fight or contest; to hold and be in charge of (a dog) at a trial or show, or while it performs its work.In later use, esp. with reference to working dogs, often merging with sense 3a.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting or baiting animals > fighting between animals > fight between animals [verb (transitive)] > set animals to fight

handle1756

fight1828

1756 W. Toldervy Hist. Two Orphans III. xxviii. 142 O! he handled a fighting cock excellently well!

1795 R. Cumberland Henry I. ii. ii. 71 No man handled a fighting cock like Bowsey; and at the country races he hawked about lists of the sporting ladies.

1825 in W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 992 The dogs to be handled by Mr. Edwards [at a baiting].

1864 Coursing Cal. Spring 63 Mr Bennett, as judge, gave every satisfaction, and Raper handled his dogs in his usual masterly style.

1914 Dog Fancier Mar. 17/1 The match was made by Dr. C. H. Sherman..and Colonel was secured for the fight by Mr. Bowser. Mr. Bowser also conditioned him and was to have handled the dog.

1954 C. L. B. Hubbard Compl. Dog Breeders' Man. 202 A woman exhibitor can handle her dog well, feel comfortable, and please the ringsiders..by wearing a simple but practical outfit.

1978 D. J. Garrow Protest at Selma iv. 149 The [police] officer handling the dog grasped the collar of the victim's shirt.

2001 W. F. Stifel Dog Show i. 19/1 Stephen T. Hammond..trained and handled the dog for the event.

a. transitive. To hold and use (a tool, weapon, instrument, etc.) with the hand; to wield; to manipulate.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or control > [verb (transitive)] > by hand

handlec1275

manhandle?a1500

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 671 He hihte hondlien [c1300 Otho handli] kablen.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 347 Þe beste knicth Þat euere micte..handlen spere.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. 4995 For to restreyne his renomed noblesse Þilke day to handle spere nor shelde.

c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 2594 That ypermystra dar nat handele a knyf.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Chron. ix. C The children of Vlam were valeaunt men, and coulde handell bowes.

a1568 R. Ascham in A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. (1576) 437 That I may see..how well you handle your penne.

1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes v. xi. 421 More fit..to handle a mattocke then to hold a musket.

1681 R. Knox Hist. Relation Ceylon iii. viii. 97 At this time none will work, until their Astrologers tell them, it is a good hour to handle their Tools.

1732 Let. 24 July in J. Wesley Extracts Jrnl. (1749) 61 As soon as they could handle a knife and fork, they were set to our table.

1799 W. Tatham Plan Improving City of London 98 A common smith, who, though accustomed to handle the hammer, has never been used to make nails.

1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain II. vi. 101 We saw others in the fields handling their rude ploughs.

1872 Evening Standard 10 Aug. 8/3 Her Royal Highness..appears to handle the ribbons in a very skilful manner.

1910 Judge 9 Apr. 8/2 A vacuum was the only thing she could be trusted to handle with safety.

1927 Amer. Speech 2 312/2 The ‘scrub nurse’ is she who handles the instruments and works within the sterile field.

2011 Independent (Nexis) 8 June 18 One skilled player handles the controls whilst another keeps a close eye on the screen's visual backdrop.

b. transitive. Military. To take hold of (a weapon, etc.), esp. when commanded to do so as part of a drill; spec. to put one's right hand on the muzzle of (one's firearm). Chiefly in imperative, (in later use) esp. in handle arms! Cf. shoulder v. 8. Now rare.Quot. 1621 may be an example of sense 2a.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > drill or training > drill [verb (transitive)] > position weapons

charge1509

trailc1550

present1579

recover1594

return1598

handle1621

rest1622

port1625

slope1625

reverse1630

to order arms1678

carry1779

1621 J. Reynolds Triumphs Gods Revenge: 1st Bk. i. i. 5 He onely practiseth..tossing the Pike, handling his Musket, ordering of Ranke and File.

1635 W. Barriffe Mil. Discipline ii. 7 Handle your pikes.

1676 Abridgem. Eng. Mil. Discipline 4 Handle your Primer. Prime your Pan.

1684 R. Howlett School Recreat. 46 Handle your Charger, Gripe fast your Bandilier or Charger, hold it even with the Muzzle.

1684 R. Howlett School Recreat. 48 Handle your Musket..step forward, and lay your Right-hand on the Muzzle.

1773 R. Lambart New Syst. Mil. Discipline iii. 85 Handle the musket as is directed in the second and third motions of the tenth word of command.

1822 Gen. Regulations & Orders for Army 220 To all Field-Officers,..Sentinels are to pay the Compliment of presenting their Arms; to all other Officers they are to carry or handle their Arms.

1853 J. H. Stocqueler Mil. Encycl. 129/1 Handle Arms!..by which the soldier is directed to bring his right hand briskly up to the muzzle of his firelock, with his fingers bent inwards.

1900 J. W. Chapman Present Day Parables 121 The general lifted his voice and addressed them: ‘Twenty-third, handle arms!’

c. Sport.

(a) transitive. Cricket. To field or bowl (a ball).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > fielding > field [verb (transitive)] > catch or throw ball

handle1776

1776 T. Fisher Kentish Traveller's Compan. ii. 35 For expertly handling the ball, the inhabitants of this county have always been famous.

1788 Ipswich Jrnl. 23 Aug. Their opponents were superior to them in handling the ball.

1841 Manchester Chron. 24 July John Ogden..handled the ball well [i.e. as bowler].

1902 Gardeners' Chron. 6 Sept. 186/2 Howie (Captain), and Fielder handled the ball with great skill.

2011 Times of India (Nexis) 19 Oct. It is easy to handle the ball for 25 overs rather than 50.

(b) transitive. Cricket. Of a batter: to touch or pick up (the ball) with the hand without the consent of the opposing team.Under the Laws of Cricket, a batter has been liable to being dismissed for this action since the earliest known Laws of 1744. Until 2017, there was an individual Law devoted to the matter (under various wordings). From 2017, this method of dismissal was merged into the Law for ‘Obstructing the Field’. A batter dismissed after handling the ball will now be adjudicated out for ‘obstructing the field’.

ΚΠ

1797 Kentish Chron. 8 Sept. (table) Mr. Horn..handling the b[all] in play.

1868 C. Box Theory & Pract. Cricket 134 No batsman has any right whatever to handle the ball while a match is in progress.

1884 H. Chadwick Sports & Pastimes Amer. Boys 77 Either batsman is out..if he touch or take up the ball while in play, unless at the request of the opposite side—‘handled the ball’.

1928 Sporting Globe (Melbourne) 18 Jan. 8/6 One of the South Launceston batsmen was given out for handling the ball. He picked it up and threw it back to the bowler, and on appeal by the opposing side, he was given out by the umpire.

1965 Times 21 Aug. 2 (heading) Rees given out for handling the ball. Cricket echo of 1907.

1998 P. Snow Time of Renewal i. 20 It is permissible for a batsman to hit the ball twice or kick the ball away (but not handle it).

(c) transitive. Chiefly Association Football. To touch (the ball) with the hand or lower arm in contravention of the rules of the game. Also intransitive. Cf. handball n. 6, handling n.¹ 1c.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > association football > play association football [verb (transitive)] > actions to ball

smother1845

handle1869

middle1869

fist1909

volley1909

sidefoot1913

clear1947

convert1950

trap1950

square1972

welly1986

1869 Harrovian 13 Nov. 40/2 The evil practice of handling the ball was pursued throughout the game by both sides.

1877 Vagabond Papers 3rd Ser. 15 This might easily be avoided by the game being confined to what it should be—football; no one being allowed to handle the ball or to lay hands upon an antagonist.

1915 Spalding's Official ‘Soccer’ Football Guide 127 The free kick is awarded for..charging an opponent illegally from behind, or handling the ball.

1990 News of World 8 Apr. 44/1 There was no way I handled... I..couldn't believe it when I saw the ref had given a penalty.

2012 Guardian (Nexis) 27 Dec. 42 The Reading striker was..booked for handling the ball into the net.

d. transitive. Tanning. To agitate (a hide) while it is being soaked in weak tanning liquor. Cf. handler n.¹ 3. Now historical.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with skins > work with skins [verb (transitive)] > convert to leather > specific processes in tanning

pile1773

handle1824

to lay away1885

1824 J. Burridge Tanner's Key vi. 56 Tannin always sinks to the bottoms and whenever tanners handle their leather they plunge or stir the liquors up well..before they add any bark to their dusters.

1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 764 They [sc. the hides]..are successively transferred into other pits with stronger ooze; all the while being daily handled, that is, moved up and down in the infusion.

1922 A. Rogers Pract. Tanning viii. 226 The skins are started in weak hemlock liquor, and then passed into a stronger liquor.., care being taken to handle the skins every day until they are tanned.

a. transitive. To exert authority or control over (a person, animal, etc.); to control (a vessel or vehicle); to manage.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > manage or administer

steerc888

leadc1175

guyc1330

guidec1374

governa1382

ministera1382

treat1387

administer1395

dispose1398

skift?a1400

warda1400

solicit1429

to deal with1469

handlea1470

execute1483

convoy?a1513

conveyc1515

mayne1520

to bear (a person or thing) in (also an, a, on) handa1522

keepa1535

administrate1538

solicitate1547

to dispose of1573

manure1583

carry1600

manage1609

negotiate1619

conduct1632

to carry on1638

mesnage1654

nurse1745

work1841

operate1850

run1857

stage-manage1906

ramrod1920

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 532 I thanke you, sir Dynadan, but ye shall undirstond that I am able to handyll hym.

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxix^v Yet at many tymes they [sc. mares] may drawe well, if they be well handeled.

1648 L. Awdeley True Relation Honorable Comm. Derby House 4 The Enemy was afraid of us, and we of them doubting them too strong for us to handle.

1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. 17 Thus you see the Ship handled in fair weather and foul.

1718 J. B. Weston Abstr. Doctr. Jesus-Christ x. 404 They forget their Inferiours are Men who put their precious Liberty..into their hands as a Pledge, and that they must very skilfully handle them.

1771 R. Berenger Hist. & Art Horsemanship I. 169 They [sc. the horses] all having been carefully handled, dressed, or maneged as we call it.

1823 Examiner 320/1 A large frigate,..lubberly handled.

1874 G. J. Whyte-Melville Uncle John II. xvi. 141 A smarter officer never handled a regiment.

1903 Transport World 6 Aug. 146/1 He here learns to handle the car through traffic.

1940 R. Wright Native Son ii. 124 She was afraid and he could handle her through her fear.

1986 S. Penman Here be Dragons (1991) (U.K. ed.) ii. viii. 660 There's no great trick to handling a bolting horse. I need only get him turning in circles, let him tire himself out.

2011 Daily Mail (Nexis) 8 Nov. Figures show 10 per cent of teachers leave the profession after a year—often because they cannot handle a class.

b. transitive (reflexive). Frequently with complement. To behave, conduct oneself in a specified manner.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > behave or conduct oneself [verb (reflexive)]

wieldOE

leadc1175

bear?c1225

steera1250

to take onc1275

contain1297

to shift one's handa1300

demeanc1320

guyc1325

govern1340

keep1362

havec1390

rulec1390

guide14..

conceivea1425

maintain?a1425

maynea1425

behavec1440

disporta1450

orderc1487

use1497

handle?1529

convey1530

gesture1542

treat1568

carry1584

deport1598

bestow1606

comport1616

mienc1680

conduct1706

?1529 R. Hyrde tr. J. L. Vives Instr. Christen Woman Pref. sig. B.iiij So you haue handled your selfe in all thordre and course of your lyfe.

1593 T. Lodge Life & Death William Long Beard sig. D^v Gerard de Antiloche..handled himselfe with such grauitie..that the commons for the most part withdrew them to their owne houses.

1651 tr. P. Ramus Dialectica i. xix, in Compend. Art of Logick & Rhetorick in Eng. Tongue 42 Neither did he so handle himself to the people onely, but also to the Senate.

1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Reformation: 3rd Pt. ii. 65 Mixing Threatnings with Promises, if they should not uprightly, according to Divine Learning, handle themselves.

1838 Light from West Jan. 17 He made a stout, witty, and godly answer, and yet in such sort handled himself that at that time he was clearly dismissed.

1928 Los Angeles Times 13 Feb. ii. 4/4 The..folks who make a business of telling you how to so handle yourself that you'll rise from a $15 clerk to the vice-presidency of the whole blest plant.

a1985 Z. Simms in I. Gitler Swing to Bop (1987) vii. 238 Serge..could be..a lot of fun. He knew how to handle himself.

2000 D. Adebayo My Once upon Time (2001) v. 103 It would have required some high-quality nerves to have handled himself so amicably when we ran into each other last night.

c. transitive. To direct, take charge of (an undertaking, operation, course of action, etc.); to carry out, perform.Sometimes (esp. in later use) difficult to distinguish from sense 7b.too hot to handle: see hot adj. and n.¹ Phrases 10.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)] > conduct (an affair)

demeanc1315

to see for ——1405

to go in hand with (also to do something)c1450

treatc1450

behavea1529

ordera1535

handle1548

manage1579

to bear forth1631

conduct1632

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. ccx The assessement of whiche fines, were appoynted to Thomas Cromwell,..whiche so pollitikely handeled the matter, that he raised..a greate somme of money.

1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias lxi. f. 125^v The skirmish was valiantly handled.

1618 W. Raleigh Observ. Trade & Commerce with Hollander (1653) 24 S. Savors his man knowes it to be true, who handled the businesse for pulling down the Impositions.

1679 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Reformation ii. 76 To proceed slowly, that the world might see with what Moderation as well as Justice, the matter was handled.

a1753 S. Bownas Acct. Life (1756) 95 George Fox..desired me to take the Tackling [i.e. fishing tackle] of the Friend, for that he wanted Skill to handle the Matter.

1823 J. L. Parke tr. A. H. Niemeyer Trav. Continent & Eng. 79 Whoever..shews himself the best informed and most capable of handling the business, finally prevails over the votes of the others.

1898 U.S. Investor 23 Apr. 599/3 A syndicate has been formed to handle the process in the United States.

1915–9 J. Buchan Nelson's Hist. War IV. xxxi. 189 General Kamio handled the expedition with perfect judgment.

1943 Triumphs of Engin. 246/2 The American concern handling the scheme..went about matters in workmanlike fashion.

2011 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 6 Nov. (Front section) 28/5 Representatives of smaller groups would form a ‘spokescouncil’ to handle day-to-day operations.

d. transitive (reflexive). To have the necessary skills or knowledge to take care of oneself in a difficult situation, hostile conditions, etc.; to acquit or defend oneself well in a fight or conflict.

ΚΠ

1884 Rocky Mountain News (Denver) 7 July 6/1 Williams and Johnson had one of their rattling..bouts. And Rooke and McCoy..showed how they could ‘handle themselves’.

1895 J. Otis Jerry's Family xv. 164 I'll knock his two eyes inter one, givin' sich guff 'bout me 'cause I aint got but one leg, an' he thinks I can't handle myself.

1898 A. C. Parkerson How Uncle Sam Fights i. 21 Fencing and boxing are also taught, in order that he may know how to handle himself at close quarters.

1962 M. Z. Bradley Planet Savers iv. 37 What sort of duffer do you take me for? I know how to handle myself in the mountains.

1988 J. D. Pistone & R. Woodley Donnie Brasco (1997) iii. 39 I picked him because he was..sharp on his feet, and could really handle himself.

2003 B. Wagner Still Holding iii. 269 Grady had better not perv on her, but Dixie could handle herself.

e. transitive. To cope with (an experience or situation) satisfactorily; to possess the mental or emotional resources necessary to accept or face up to (something challenging or difficult).

ΚΠ

1914 Rotarian Sept. 116/2 None but the foolishly nervous can doubt the ability of our banks to handle the situation in a satisfactory manner.

1929 R. S. Lynd & H. M. Lynd Middletown xvi. 222 The invention of the motion picture is introducing the city's population..into types of vivid experience which they..have no training to handle.

1951 Salt Lake Tribune 18 Jan. 10/7 There isn't a minute in the day that someone isn't coming through that door with twice as much work as I can handle.

1971 H. S. Thompson in Rolling Stone 11 Nov. 44/3 Ignore that nightmare in the bathroom. Just another ugly refugee from the Love Generation, some doom-struck gimp who couldn't handle the pressure.

1985 TV Times 31 Aug. 4/1 The public was not ready to see me kiss Michael Caine. People couldn't handle it.

2000 Book Sept. 20/3 Writing Demolition Angel was like writing Requiem—just as hard, but he had shown that he could handle it.

4. transitive. To use, do something competently with; to make appropriate or skilful use of.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or make use of [verb (transitive)]

noteOE

take?a1160

turnc1175

usec1300

to fare witha1340

benote1340

spenda1400

usea1400

weara1400

naitc1400

occupy1423

to put (also set) in work?a1425

practise?c1430

apply1439

employ?1473

to call upon ——1477

help1489

tew1489

handle1509

exercise1526

improvea1529

serve1538

feed1540

enure1549

to make (also take) (a) use of1579

wield1601

adoperate1612

to avail oneself ofa1616

prevail1617

to make practice of1623

ploy1675

occasion1698

to call on ——1721

subserve1811

nuse1851

utilize1860

1509 Parlyament Deuylles (de Worde) sig. A.iv He [sc. Jesus] handleth neyther money ne knyfe.

1566 T. Blundeville Bredynge of Horses iv. f. 14, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe To reyne well,..to handle his feete orderlye,..and to obey his Riders will at all assayes: proceadeth rather of art then of nature.

1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 3 The devill desires no better sport then to see light heads handle their heeles.

1700 tr. F. de S. de la Mothe-Fénelon Adventures Telemachus (ed. 2) v. 664 Seamen..fall to handling their Ropes, and spreading their Sales.

1747 W. Foot Ess. Educ. 11 Thus he will come by Degrees to handle his Dictionary aright, without Labour or Loss of Time.

1796 Grose's Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue (ed. 3) (at cited word) To know how to handle one's fists; to be skilful in the art of boxing.

1860 J. Ruskin Let. 29 Sept. in A. I. Ritchie Rec. Tennyson, Ruskin, & Browning (1892) 137 It struck me..that you depended too much on blending and too little on handling colour.

1866 Rural Amer. (Utica, N.Y.) 15 Dec. 373/1 It takes a few days for them [sc. horses] to become accustomed to handling their feet with new shoes.

1911 W. James Mem. & Stud. viii. 189 Most of us reveal such a tendency whenever we handle a ouija-board.

1940 M. Hopper How to play Winning Checkers iii. 15 Other ‘two-’ and ‘three-move’ openings are all right later, after the neophyte has learned to handle his checkers.

1984 A. Lee Sarah Phillips (1985) 75 The campers had been handling canoes all summer.

2011 N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 19 Nov. Dick Frizzell's recently published book pays tribute to McIntyre's extraordinary skills in handling paint.

5. intransitive. With complement.

a. To have a specified feel when touched or held; to feel to the touch.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > quality of being tangible > have specified feel when touched [verb (intransitive)]

handlea1637

touch1794

a1637 G. Markham Compl. Farriar (1639) i. xi. 76 If his flesh generally handle soft, and loose..then is the horse foule without question.

1699 J. Kelly Impartial Rel. Services in Victualling-office 2 Dodson..survey'd it [sc. biscuit], and reports it, as handling cold.

1727 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Oeconomique (Dublin ed.) at Hop-garden If they handle moist or clammy when you squeeze them they are fit to bag.

1777 Farmer's Mag. Apr. 103 Wheat, if it handles cold and heavy, will do best when sown early.

1823 S. Parkes Chem. Ess. (ed. 2) II. xii. 310 The hot soap gives them a gloss which is much approved of and occasions them to handle better than common hose.

1897 Trans. Highland & Agric. Soc. Scotl. 5th Ser. 9 69 A noticeable point about the sheep is the way it handles: it has a firmness of touch difficult to find elsewhere.

1921 America's Textile Reporter 6 Jan. 10/2 The fabric handles thin and firm.

2007 S. Seivewright Basic Fashion Design 23 The textures you research can often inspire new ideas for surface manipulation and the way a fabric handles will help to define..a garment.

b. Of a machine, tool, weapon, etc.: to react in a specified way when used or controlled; esp. (of a motor vehicle) to respond in a specified way when driven.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > [verb (intransitive)] > operate under specific conditions

behave1854

handle1881

1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 250 If the balance is not the same, they will handle as if of different bends.

1920 Rudder Dec. 56/2 Mr. Marvin..was very much delighted by the way the boat handled when he had her in the race.

1958 Times 23 Sept. 14/2 Sceptre, handling excellently, rounded the mark to the sound of loud hootings.

1997 Details Feb. 167 The Cabriolet..handles more like a rear-wheel-drive car than a front-wheel spinner.

2010 San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News (Nexis) 7 Mar. The game has great mechanics. Guns handle well and the controls are intuitive.

II. To deal with, treat.

a. transitive. To deal with or treat in speech, writing, or drama; to discuss; to portray; (formerly occasionally) spec. †to discuss in a deliberative assembly, to confer about (obsolete).In later use frequently with reference to literary or dramatic portrayal; cf. sense 8.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > non-fiction > treatise or dissertation > write treatise about or treat of [verb (transitive)]

writeOE

handleOE

treatc1325

treatc1374

entreatc1425

treatise1506

tract1529

pertract1542

overharl1568

entracta1572

to speak to ——1610

OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. ii. 38 Nu wylle ic bysne ætywan ymbe þa þing þe we nu handledon and fæste ymbe wæron.

lOE Dispute between Bp. Godwine & Leofwine (Sawyer 1456) in A. Campbell Charters of Rochester (1973) 54 Hy ðær þa spæce swa lange handledon..oþ hy ealle bædon þone biscop eaðmodlice þæt he geunnan scolde þæt he moste..þæs landes brucan.

c1391 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Bodl. 294) Prol. l. 65* But he that hath his word unpeysed And handeleþ outkrong [perh. read onwrong] eny thing, I preye un to the hevene king Fro suche tunges he me schilde.

1480 Higden's Discripcion Brit. (Caxton) xiii The cause was handled and ytreated bitwene the forsaid primates.

1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Rv^v The preacher handled his matter learnedlie.

1599 M. Aray Discouerie Tragical Fiction f. 12^v The course & manner of this seemed rather some such matche as Kemp and his compagnions do handle on the stage, then the lyuely managing of a matter of truth in deede.

1621 H. Elsynge Notes Deb. House of Lords (1870) 126 To discusse the matter of oathe..which is appoynted to be handled that daye.

1648 Bp. J. Wilkins Math. Magick i. ii. 12 Astronomy handles the quantity of heavenly motions.

1725 I. Watts Logick iv. ii. §6 The very same theme may be handled..in several different methods.

1780 T. Bell Standard of Spirit Pref. p. iv Had I meant to handle the subject at large, I would have taken a much more extensive range.

1839 J. W. Burgon Life & Times Sir T. Gresham II. 517 The professor of Law..was to handle such legal questions as were most likely to prove interesting and useful to an auditory of merchants and citizens.

1868 J. T. Nettleship Ess. Browning's Poetry Introd. 1 I could not within reasonable limits handle both criticism and interpretation.

1912 New-church Rev. Oct. 576 As religion is seen nearer to life, Swedenborg's manner of handling the theme will be recognized as more and more helpful.

1940 Brass Tacks Oct. 153/1 Van Vogt's stories have been a source of great joy to me, because of the way he handled his human characters.

2007 F. Sieren China Code xi. 289 His first successful Hollywood film..handles the subject of the cultural competition between China and the USA.

†b. intransitive. With of, upon, and other prepositions. To discourse or confer about a specified subject. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > conversation > converse [verb (intransitive)] > confer, consult, or deliberate

roundc1275

to speak togetherc1275

to take counselc1290

counsel1297

treat1297

advisea1393

communea1393

to take deliberationc1405

common1416

to put (also bring, lay, set, etc.) their (also our, your) heads togetherc1425

janglec1440

bespeak1489

parliamenta1492

intercommonc1540

confer1545

parle1558

consult1565

imparl1572

break parle1594

handle1596

emparley1600

to confer notes1650

to compare notes1709

powwow1780

to get together1816

palaver1877

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 378 Tha hanelit anent the Mariage of the Quene.

a1651 C. Love Souls Cordiall (1653) ii. 71 I am to handle on this promise of Christ, but I come againe.

1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid ii. xxvi. 177 In the Chapter which handleth of exiccated Members.

1673 A. Wood Life 12 Oct. They finding that I had handled upon that point, Peers altered it.

a. transitive. With adverbial complement. To deal with, treat (a person) in the specified way; to behave in the specified way towards.In earlier use frequently with the implication of physical ill-treatment; cf. quots. a1470, 1556 at sense 1a.

ΚΠ

c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Royal) 333 Me seli meiden hu derstu nu hondlin me ant halden me swa hardeliche.

c1410 (c1350) Gamelyn (Harl. 7334) l. 10 Deth was comen him to and handled him ful sore.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Prov. xxiv. C I wil handle him, euen as he hath dealte w^t me.

1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. vii. f. 33 The miserable Ilande men, whom they handeled moste cruelly.

a1606 J. Lyly Euphues (1636) sig. E5 I brought thee vp like a Cokes [i.e. cockney], and thou hast handled mee like a Cockscombe.

1697 J. Potter Archæologiæ Græcæ I. i. ix. 47 Being of Opinion, that he had been Shrewdly handled by the Divine Vengeance.

1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi ii. App. 70/1 Sir William was very hardly Handled..in the Liberty which People took to make most..injurious Reflections upon his Conduct.

1797 G. Baker tr. Livy Hist. Rome VI. xlviii. 325 Cato had..handled him with great severity.

1861 J. Tulloch Eng. Puritanism iv. 417 He was handled twenty times worse than he had been before.

1894 R. Bridges Feast of Bacchus i. 405 Handle him kindly.

1918 Jrnl. Amer. Soc. Mech. Engineers Apr. 337/1 (advt.) Must be able to handle tactfully executives and employees.

1945 S. O' Casey Drums under Windows 290 He was rudely handled by a rough-shouting doctor.

2001 A. Wright & R. Fenby tr. L. de Witte Assassination Lumumba v. 103 He was nothing more than a mere prisoner whom it is appropriate to handle harshly.

b. transitive. To deal with, treat; to subject to some process or operation.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > doing > do [verb (transitive)] > perform practical operations upon

workeOE

manurea1450

handle1483

subact1614

the world > action or operation > manner of action > [verb (transitive)] > deal with or treat

leada1225

playc1400

steada1475

handle1483

the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)] > conduct (an affair) > deal with (a matter)

takec1175

speedc1374

handc1440

to deal with1469

deduce1528

deal1586

wield1595

cope with1641

tractate1657

handlea1774

job1825

absorb1826

address1838

1483 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1869) I. 49 That na fleschour bye na fische to sell and regraitt agane, bot to brek thame allanerly for thair fie..and handell thame honestly.

1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth xi. sig. F.iv It wyll make good drynke or euyl, euery thinge as it is handled.

1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 53 With the French, lesse [meat], but well handled.

1665 R. Hooke Micrographia Pref. sig. D2 So vast is the variety of Objects..so many different wayes there are of handling them.

1726 D. Defoe Mere Nature Delineated 3 The Man is a Rational, or a Stupid, just as he is handled by his Teachers.

a1774 Z. Pearce Serm. (1778) III. xv. 294 [He] fears to expose a good cause by his method of handling it.

1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 165 You would be as much afraid of handling this matter, as if it were glowing iron.

1879 Athenæum 8 Nov. 603/3 The most difficult of all musical forms to handle successfully.

1912 J. B. Thiess & G. A. Joy Toll Telephone Pract. i. 3 In many cases the toll and the long distance business are handled at different switchboards.

1959 Rotarian Feb. 54/3 If you handle cases of those crimes in the same manner as you handle less heinous cases..you are committing a three-pronged injustice.

1981 R. D. Edwards Corridors of Death vi. 29 The need for tact and sensitivity in handling the Top People involved.

2000 Summary of World Broadcasts Pt. 5: Afr., Lat. Amer. & Caribbean (B.B.C.) (Nexis) 17 Nov. AL/D4000/L Parties are noted for nebulousness when it comes to the way..campaign funds are handled.

†c. intransitive. With complement. To act in a specified way. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > doing > act or do [verb (intransitive)]

workeOE

i-do971

doOE

to shift one's handa1300

performa1382

practisec1475

skift?a1534

handle1535

act1583

enact1593

actuate1620

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cxviii[i]. 78 Let the proude be confounded, which handle so falsly agaynst me.

1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 616 They handle together with good faith.

8. transitive. To treat artistically; to portray or represent (in a particular manner or style).figurative in quot. 1531 (cf. paint v.¹ 4b).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > work of art > [verb (transitive)] > artistic treatment or style

handle1531

treat1695

society > leisure > the arts > literature > art or occupation of writer or author > be the author of or write (a work) [verb (transitive)] > present by literary treatment

beloukOE

induce1484

handle1531

introduce1559

manage1697

write1781

plant1948

1531 G. Joye tr. Prophete Isaye Prol. sig. A.ij^v What so eur they do, it shalbe so kraftely handled, so coloured, so paynted y^t it maye apere well & rightuously.

1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Cv A deuyll made of copper, and that so workemanly handeled, that he semeth like flaming fire.

1603 M. Drayton Barrons Wars vi. xliii. 136 The story of his fortunes past, In liuely pictures neatly handled was.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. x. 412 It is very unusual to see the light and shade justly and naturally handled [in Chinese pictures].

1850 J. Leitch tr. K. O. Müller Ancient Art (new ed.) §204. 193 The countenance is always handled in a less spirited manner.

1860 C. Kingsley Misc. (ed. 2) II. 77 Our painting is only good when it handles landscapes and animals.

1914 Amer. Art News 7 Feb. 5/1 Mr. Briton Rivière, as usual, handles his subject ably in his ‘Voices of the Night’.

2004 C. Stratton Buddhist Sculpt. Northern Thailand iii. 75/1 To the iconography we must add stylistic conventions: how the individual sculptor handled the body of the Buddha or his apparel.

9. transitive. To have in one's possession or pass through one's hands in the way of business; to trade or deal in; to buy and sell; (later also) knowingly to receive or deal in (stolen goods). Cf. handel v.Handling stolen goods is a statutory offence in England and Wales under the Theft Act (1968).

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > [verb (transitive)]

monga1250

corsec1440

coss14..

merchant1511

chafferc1535

merchandise1538

mart1589

trade1589

broke1598

factor1611

handle1638

commercea1641

chop1645

chaffera1657

job1701

truck1715

to turn in1822

monger1928

society > trade and finance > [verb (transitive)] > cause to circulate by trade

to turn over1585

turn1598

to turn and wind1598

wind1598

return1677

handle1889

the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > receiving or possessing stolen goods > receive or possess stolen goods [verb (intransitive)]

reset1817

fence1840

handle1977

1638 L. Roberts Merchants Mappe of Commerce cxxvii. 30 He that never handled any commodity but Silkes or Iewels.

1666 Act discharging Vending Goods Ostend (Privy Council Scotl.) (single sheet) Untill first they acquaint the Sheriffs..in what places they shall handle their Wares and Commodities.

1736 tr. P. C. de C. de Marivaux Life Marianne I. 45 She handled her Shop-Goods with all the Judgment and Address imaginable.

1839 Merchants' Mag. Oct. 293 He is ready with knowledge to handle any peculiar article, and converse with..every intelligent consignor.

1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 13 Feb. 3/1 Large jobbing houses who handle all the new and standard publications in considerable numbers to supply small dealers.

1920 Automotive Industries 22 Apr. 966/2 A dozen or more instances could be cited of dealers who now are handling no trucks or who have a different truck from that formerly sold.

1977 Third Way 13 Jan. 13/1 Offences involving property (burglary, theft and handling stolen goods) were the principal crimes committed.

2011 Business Daily (Nairobi) (Nexis) 1 July Traders handling larger consignments who wish to benefit from duty-free access will be required to use the normal Comesa certificate of origin.

Derivatives

ˈhandlesome adj. rare capable of being (easily) handled.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > [adjective] > capable of being handled

handleable1611

handlesome1674

1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 47 All feelers numb, nothing handlesom.

1900 Bull. Cleveland Gen. Hosp. Oct. 44 To make a dictionary useful it should be both handy and ‘handlesome’—a great bulky..affair is certain not to be used so frequently..as this splendid little volume.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

handlev.²

Brit.

/ˈhandl/, U.S.

/ˈhændəl/

Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: handle n.¹

Etymology: < handle n.¹ Compare earlier handled adj.¹ and slightly earlier handler n.²

transitive. With complement. To provide with a handle or handles of a specified type, number, or (in heraldic use) tincture. Usually in passive.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > making tools, equipment, or fastenings > make tools, equipment, or fastenings [verb (transitive)] > furnish tool with handle

haftc1430

helvec1440

stave1542

steal1543

handle1600

shaft1611

stouk1686

tree1864

1600 T. Masham in Princ. Navigations III. 695 Wee were informed, that their bowes were handled with golde.

1701 C. Wooley Two Years Jrnl. N.-Y. 75 With a flint, handled the Indian way.

1785 W. Cowper Let. 24 Dec. (1981) II. 433 It..is hinged, handled, and mounted with silver.

1855 H. T. De la Beche & T. Reeks Catal. Specimens Brit. Pottery Museum Pract. Geol. 116 Three handled tyg,..so handled that three different persons, drinking out of it, and each using a separate handle, bring their mouths to different parts of the rim.

1865 Heraldic Jrnl. June 87 A demi-lion vert,..holding in his dexter paw a battleaxe gold, handled gules.

1888 A. M. Bell Later Age of Stone 36 You may now ask how these implements were handled.

1920 21st Ann. Rep. Mich. Acad. Sci. 211 Their trench tools were handled with hickory and ash and maple.

2009 S. Pfeiffer Collecting Case Knives 70/2 The pocket knife line had dropped to an even 100 patterns, of which 70 were handled in bone.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

n.¹eOE

n.²1823

v.¹OE

v.²1600

单词	handle
释义	handlen.¹ Brit. /ˈhandl/, U.S. /ˈhændəl/ Forms: Old English handla, Old English– handle, Middle English handdell, Middle English handele, Middle English handyl, Middle English handyll, Middle English handylle, Middle English hondel, Middle English hondil, Middle English hondlen (plural), Middle English–1500s handel, Middle English–1500s handell, Middle English–1500s handill, 1500s andell, 1500s handil, 1800s– han'le (Irish English (northern)), 1800s– hannel (English regional (northern)), 1800s– hondle (English regional (west midlands)); U.S. regional 1800s hanl, 1800s hannle, 1900s– han'le; Scottish pre-1700 1700s– handle, 1700s– handel, 1800s hanil, 1800s hannel, 1900s– haandle (Shetland), 1900s– hanle, 1900s– hannle, 1900s– haunnle, 1900s– hun'le (north-eastern). N.E.D. (1898) also records forms late Middle English andyll, late Middle English handil. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: hand n., -le suffix. Etymology: < hand n. + -le suffix. Compare Old High German hantilla towel.In Old English probably a weak feminine (handle ); the form handla (attested as second element in the compound sulhhandla sullow-handle n. at sullow n. Compounds 2 (compare quot. OE at sense 1)) probably reflects the merger of unstressed a and e in the 11th cent. (compare A. Campbell Old Eng. Gram. (1959) §379), rather than showing a weak masculine. 1. A part of a thing by which it is to be held in order to use, move, or carry it; (hence) any part or object used in this way.axe-, broom-, door-, jug, knife-, plough, pump-handle, etc.: see the first element. Cf. also love handle n. at love n.¹ Compounds 6.In Old English rendering stiba, post-classical form of classical Latin stīva shaft of a plough handle (see stive n.⁶). ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [noun] > handle handleeOE helvec897 haftc1000 steal1377 start1380 handa1400 helmc1430 handlinga1450 pull1551 grasp1561 hilt1574 cronge1577 hold1578 tab1607 manubrium1609 tree1611 handfast1638 stock1695 handing1703 gripe1748 stem1796 handhold1797 grip1867 eOE Corpus Gloss. (1890) 110/2 Stiba, handle. OE Antwerp-London Gloss. (2011) 45 Stiba, sulhhandla. c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 556 (MED) He dude..fowre of his cnihtes forte turnen þet hweol wið hondlen imaket þron. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xix. 1374 Amphora haþ þat name of ansis ‘handel’, by þe whiche [it is] yhoue hider and þider. ?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 164 To smyte an hors with the handill of a whippe. 1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) i. iii–v. sig. aiiii He handled the swerd by the handels. 1542 T. Elyot Bibliotheca Enchiridion, a handle of a thynge. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 108^v The handles, or steales of husbandmens tooles. a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. i. 34 Is this a Dagger, which I see before me, The Handle toward my Hand? View more context for this quotation 1686 C. Allen Physical Disc. Pulse in Operator for Teeth 50 A cartilagineous substance..incompasses the root of the Artery round about, as an iron-ring does the end of a handle. 1705 A. Dunton Wit's Exercise xxxix. 37 Take a Kettleful of Water, and hang the Handle upon the same [stick]. 1798 J. Ferriar Illustr. Sterne vi. 177 Do you not consider what a handle a long beard affords to the enemy? 1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words Kit, properly a covered milking-pail with two handles. 1869 Med. Rec. Mar. 163/1 Afterwards, using this emerged point as a handle, the other end of the needle may be pulled down to the level of the artery. 1891 R. Routledge Discov. & Inventions 19th Cent. (ed. 8) 53 When the guide-stock is turned by the handles, the required grooves are cut out. 1916 Notions & Fancy Goods Apr. 33/2 Inside the bag is a lining of flesh pink satin and silver cords form the handle. c1943 Everyday Things & their Story 109/1 From one or more of these improbable raw materials..the handles of our umbrellas, our toothbrushes, shaving brushes, hair brushes and other toilet gear [are made]. 1971 L. Beckwith About my Father's Business (1973) xiv. 170 Father used to sing as he churned away at the handle of the mincing machine. 2008 S. Pope Dancing with Serpents xi. 70 He grabbed the handle of the door and pushed lightly to try and open it. 2. figurative. A means or opportunity of doing or dealing with something; esp. a way of controlling, managing, or understanding a person, situation, etc.; a fact or circumstance that may be taken advantage of. Also: one of two or more ways in which something may be understood or interpreted. Cf. to get a handle on at Phrases 4.In early use chiefly in figurative contexts. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [noun] > (a) means keyOE toolc1000 wherewithc1230 ministerc1380 meanc1390 instrumenta1425 organ?a1425 mesne1447 moyen1449 handlec1450 hackneya1500 receipta1500 operative1526 ingine1531 appliance1555 agent1579 matter1580 mids1581 wedge1581 wherewithal1583 shoeing-horn1587 engine1589 instrumental1598 Roaring Meg1598 procurement1601 organy1605 vehicle1615 vehiculuma1617 executioner1646 facility1652 operatory1660 instrumentality1663 expedient1665 agency1684 bladea1713 mechanic1924 mechanism1924 c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 65 (MED) Þi scope of penauns muste haue an handyll for to holde wyth þi scope in þin handys..þe handyll is satisfaccyoun. 1529 T. More Supplyc. Soulys ii. f. xxxvii He wold gladly cach hold of sum small handell to kepe hys money fast. 1633 G. Herbert Confession in Temple 119 Fiction Doth give a hold and handle to affliction. 1697 tr. F. Burgersdijck Monitio Logica ii. xiii. 56 A dilemma is..as it were a syllogism with two handles and catching one both ways. 1732 T. Lediard tr. J. Terrasson Life Sethos II. viii. 224 I would not give this handle to calumny. 1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives VI. 123 He took care to give her no handle against him. 1840 Tait's Edinb. Mag. June 391/2 This would..be taking the matter by the best handle, and allowing man to keep his undisturbed monopoly of the vices. 1876 W. E. Gladstone Homeric Synchronism 168 Where tradition afforded any sort of handle for the purpose. 1939 J. Colville Diary 9 Nov. in Fringes of Power (1985) 50 This may give a useful handle to those who think he is too old for the job and ought to retire. 1979 W. A. Jurgens Faith of Early Fathers 188 At any rate the phrase seems to have two handles and Jerome must have had a firm grip on both. 2001 Denver Post 18 Feb. i11/2 Most players have a handle on this, with respect to how good a hand or how good a suit you need to overcall at the one and two-level. 3. a. A structure resembling a handle. Cf. panhandle n. 1.In Anatomy and Botany = manubrium n. In quot. ?1731: the penis. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > ear > [noun] > flap or lobe lapc1000 ear-lapOE list1530 lippet1598 lug1602 lappet1609 handle1615 libbet1627 auricle1650 flip-flop1661 pinna1682 helix1684 lobe1719 earlobea1785 ear flap1810 leaf1819 shell1831 pavilion1842 ear bud1953 the world > life > the body > sex organs > male sex organs > [noun] > penis weapona1000 tarsec1000 pintleOE cock?c1335 pillicock?c1335 yard1379 arrowa1382 looma1400 vergea1400 instrumentc1405 fidcocka1475 privya1500 virile member (or yard)?1541 prickc1555 tool1563 pillock1568 penis1578 codpiece1584 needle1592 bauble1593 dildo1597 nag1598 virility1598 ferret1599 rubigo?a1600 Jack1604 mentula1605 virge1608 prependent1610 flute1611 other thing1628 engine1634 manhood1640 cod1650 quillity1653 rammer1653 runnion1655 pego1663 sex1664 propagator1670 membrum virile1672 nervea1680 whore-pipe1684 Roger1689 pudding1693 handle?1731 machine1749 shaft1772 jock1790 poker1811 dickyc1815 Johnny?1833 organ1833 intromittent apparatus1836 root1846 Johnson1863 Peter1870 John Henry1874 dickc1890 dingusc1890 John Thomasc1890 old fellowc1890 Aaron's rod1891 dingle-dangle1893 middle leg1896 mole1896 pisser1896 micky1898 baby-maker1902 old man1902 pecker1902 pizzle1902 willy1905 ding-dong1906 mickey1909 pencil1916 dingbatc1920 plonkerc1920 Johna1922 whangera1922 knob1922 tube1922 ding1926 pee-pee1927 prong1927 pud1927 hose1928 whang1928 dong1930 putz1934 porkc1935 wiener1935 weenie1939 length1949 tadger1949 winkle1951 dinger1953 winky1954 dork1961 virilia1962 rig1964 wee-wee1964 Percy1965 meat tool1966 chopper1967 schlong1967 swipe1967 chode1968 trouser snake1968 ding-a-ling1969 dipstick1970 tonk1970 noonies1972 salami1977 monkey1978 langer1983 wanker1987 1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια viii. xi. 576 Tully in his second Booke ad Quintum fratrem cals it [sc. the earlobe] Ansa Auriculae the handle of the ear. 1639 T. de Gray Compl. Horseman ii. i. 39 The Crocks and Handles of the scull. 1671 tr. A. de Courtin Rules Civility x. 94 A legg of Mutton is cut above the handle, by thrusting the knife as deep into it as one may. ?1731 ‘Hurlo Thrumbo’ Merry-thought: Pt. 1 16 For Want of his Handle, [she] Made use of a Candle. 1795 A. Fyfe Syst. Anat. & Physiol. (rev. ed.) II. iv. i. 145 The malleus, the handle of which is closely joined to the inside of the membrane. 1830 E. Griffith et al. Cuvier's Animal Kingdom XI. 216 From the hinder paries of the long cavity proceeds a muscular filament, which is attached to the handle of the bone. 1895 F. W. Oliver et al. tr. A. Kerner von Marilaun Nat. Hist. Plants II. 63 The stalk-cell projecting from the plate [of the antheridium of a stonewort] has hence been called the ‘manubrium’ or handle. 1932 A. Bell Cherry Tree xi. 159 Here..was a thorn that grew complete with a queer knobby handle. 1961 O. Nash Coll. Verse 60 Elephants are useful friends, They have handles on both ends. 2005 A. Stalker & A. Nolan Sea Kayak Paddling through Hist. vi. 92/1 This island used to have a ‘handle’ of rock and dirt but in the mid-1800s the handle fell into the sea. b. slang. The nose. Chiefly in handle to (also of, on) one's face. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > nose > [noun] noseeOE naseeOE nebeOE billa1000 nesec1175 grunyie?a1513 gnomon1582 nib1585 proboscis1631 handle to (also of, on) one's face1675 snot-gall1685 nozzle1689 bowsprit1690 smeller1699 snitch1699 trunk1699 vessel1813 index1817 conk1819 sneezer1820 scent box1826 snorter1829 snuff-box1829 bugle1847 beak1854 nasal1854 sniffer1858 boko1859 snoot1861 snorer1891 horn1893 spectacles-seat1895 razzo1899 beezer1915 schnozzle1926 schnozzola1929 schnozz1930 snozzle1930 honker1942 hooter1958 1675 R. Head Nugæ Venales (ed. 2) 74 Judge you Master..whether I can blow my Nose, having lost the handle of my Face. 1708 P. A. Motteux Wks. F. Rabelais v. v Carbuncles..which undermine the Handles of their Faces. 1751 A. Hamilton in E. G. Breslaw Rec. Tuesday Club Annapolis (1988) i. 271 Furnished with very large handles to their faces. 1811 Lexicon Balatronicum (at cited word) The cove flashes a rare handle to his physog; the fellow has a large nose. 1876 Godey's Lady's Bk. Apr. 364/1 She had a handle on her face by way of a nose that was something astonishing. 1915 J. B. Graham Handset Reminisc. 80 The fine, aquiline handle to his face was always very red. 4. a. colloquial. More fully a handle to one's name. A title of rank, honour, respect, or profession; spec. (chiefly British) a title of noble rank. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > [noun] nameeOE dignityc1290 titlea1398 stylea1400 addition1472 a handle to one's name1822 1822 J. Mitford My Cousin in Army iv. 105 The men..With pretty handles to their names;—The Hons. and Barts. and K.C.B.'s. 1826 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 677/1 Sir, ‘—that's the handle of my Sunday's name, you must know, my lads—hem.’ 1886 Illustr. London News 23 Jan. 94/3 Very distinguished young women, with handles to their names. 1902 M. Manning Ld. Alingham, Bankrupt ix. 70 One woman with a title is equal to two without. The handle is to the woman what the claws are to the cat. 1948 B. M. Myers & F. N. Myers Home is Sailor xiii. 165 They..pull out cards full of M.A.'s and Ph.D.'s and all sorts of other fancy handles. 1986 Observer 19 Oct. 9/7 Long-serving Tory backbenchers..who are likely to be given a handle to their names. 2011 Times Higher Educ. Suppl. (Nexis) 3 Feb. 30 Readerships..are not attractive to managers because they do not give a handle to one's name. b. slang (originally U.S.). A personal name; a nickname; spec. an identifying nickname used by a CB radio operator or (later) a user of an online forum, etc. Cf. moniker n. 1. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > naming > name or appellation > [noun] > nickname or additional name to-namec950 eke-name1303 surnamec1330 bynamec1374 nickname1440 addition1472 epitheton1570 by-term1579 epithet1579 agnomination1590 adjunct1598 apathaton1598 byword1598 nurse-name1605 familiar name1611 suradditiona1616 sobriquet1646 agname1652 last name1695 agnomen1809 cognomen1811 soubriquet1818 nickery1823 handle1838 cognomination1843 moniker1851 eponym1863 adname1890 tag1961 1838 J. C. Neal Charcoal Sketches 116 They were satisfied that a sonorous handle to one's patronymic acts like a balloon to its owner. 1870 J. C. Duval Adventures Big-Foot Wallace xxxviii. 236 I would rather be called ‘Big-Foot Wallace’ than ‘Lying Wallace’... Such handles to my name would not be agreeable. 1927 Dial. Notes 5 449 Whut's yer handle? 1956 N. Algren Walk on Wild Side i. 75 The name is Kitty Twist..not my real handle of course. It's just what they took to callin' me in The Home. 1964 D. Varaday Gara-Yaka xx. 180 One was Toothless Annie... She had come by her ‘handle’ when a hysterical grass-eater had kicked her teeth in. 1976 C. Whelton CB Baby 17 My handle. My CB name. You got to have a handle if you want to talk on CB. 1991 S. Barry Prayers of Sherkin ii, in Plays: One (1997) 93 Jesse, is that his handle? 2011 Vanity Fair Apr. 176/1 Most members of Anonymous..are..posting under deadpanned handles like Coldblood and Tux. 5. A small basket with a handle, in which soft fruit is packed for the market. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > container for food > [noun] > basket > for fruit or vegetables fraila1382 top1440 tapnet1524 fig-frail1608 flat1640 raisin frail1669 chip basket1758 pottle1771 sievea1800 punnet1822 trug1836 bodge1876 molly1883 handle1900 society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > basket > [noun] > small fiscelle1483 kipsey1615 ridicule basket1819 punnet1822 reticule basket1822 handle1900 1900 Daily Express 30 June 5/5 French red currants reached 1s. 3d. a basket or ‘handle’. 6. New Zealand. A glass beer mug with a handle, (formerly) one holding two thirds of a pint; (also) as much beer as this holds. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > the scientific measurement of volume > measure(s) of capacity > [noun] > liquid measure of capacity > specific units of liquid measure > pint pint1378 wine-pint1770 reputed pint1787 Paris pint1795 pt.1850 handle1909 the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > drinking vessel > [noun] > glass glassc888 verrea1382 Venice glass1527 rummer1625 bottle glass1626 Malaga glassa1627 flute1649 flute-glass1668 long glass1680 mum-glass1684 toasting glass1703 wine glass1709 tulip-glass1755 tun-glass1755 water glass1779 tumbler-glass1795 Madeira glass1801 tumbling glass1803 noggin glass1805 champagne glass1815 table glass1815 balloon glass1819 copita1841 firing glass1842 nobbler1842 thimble glass1843 wine1848 liqueur-glass1850 straw-stem1853 pokal1854 goblet1856 mousseline1862 pony glass1862 long-sleever1872 cocktail glass1873 champagne flute1882 yard-glass1882 sleever1896 tea-glass1898 liqueur1907 dock-glass1911 toast-master glass1916 Waterford1916 stem-glass1922 Pilsner glass1923 Amen glass1924 ballon1930 balloon goblet1931 thistle glass1935 snifter1937 balloon1951 shot-glass1955 handle1956 tulip1961 schooner1967 champagne fountain1973 the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > drinking vessel > [noun] > vessel for specific liquor ale bowl1420 caudle cup1610 stein1855 sack-pot1857 champagne saucer1861 chirper1862 bombilla1866 krug1866 handle1956 1909 N.Z. Truth 29 May 7 What was 'Arry's lotion? Did he have ‘a handle’ of beer every time, or just a drop o' Scotch? 1938 R. Finlayson Brown Man's Burden 40 ‘A handle of beer,’ Mr. Puttle was saying easily to the barman. 1956 N.Z. Listener 8 June in J. Reid Kiwi Laughs (1961) 204 They still drink beer out of handles, sixpence a pop. 2001 K. Duignan Breakwater 86 He orders another handle of beer. 7. U.S. Gambling. The total amount of money bet on a particular event, or over a particular period of time. ΚΠ 1932 Chicago Tribune 20 May ii. 23/1 The total handle at Chicago tracks..is said to be less than half of what it was in boom times. 1948 Baltimore Sun 26 Nov. 19/1 Mutuel manager Tommy O'Hara announced a handle of $1,337,466 at the end of the holiday program. 1974 Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) 13 Oct. c14/6 During the summer meeting we experienced the highest handle ever for a meeting in the history of the track. 1992 Esquire Feb. 63/1 Betting on football..reaches its zenith come Super Bowl Sunday. Just in Nevada..the local handle for last year's event was $40 million and change. 2004 Time 31 May 81/1 The Preakness Stakes, which the chestnut colt from Philly won by 13.5 lengths, carried a record $59 million handle. Phrases In various figurative colloquial phrases. P1. to throw the handle after the hatchet and variants: to gamble everything, having already gambled or lost part; to commit oneself totally in a risky venture; = to throw the helve after the hatchet at helve n. 1b. ΚΠ 1664 Duchess of Newcastle CCXI Sociable Lett. xli. 85 They fling the Handle after the Hatchet. ?1797 tr. J.-M. Leprince de Beaumont Dialogues for Sunday Evenings I. 198 I doubt if one oath should escape me I shall be apt to throw the handle after the hatchet, as they say. 1853 H. Bleby Death Struggles of Slavery v. 38 It was only inflicting further wrong upon the..proprietors, to allow the hot-headed militia thus to ‘throw the handle after the hatchet’. 1884 Zion's Herald 13 Feb. 50/6 To what end should they so plague themselves? The pietistic pessimists have hurled the handle after the hatchet. 1921 Manch. Guardian 28 Jan. 4/3 The [Welsh rugby union] Selection Committee have made a clean sweep of the back division, but have not thrown the handle after the hatchet by rejecting J. Rees. 2012 Kerryman (County Kerry) (Nexis) 13 June It might now be the time to go for more emphasis on youth and throw the handle after the hatchet. P2. U.S. (up) to the handle: all the way; thoroughly, completely; up to the hilt. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [phrase] > thoroughly or to the utmost to the uttermostc1400 to (also unto) (the) outrancec1425 up to the hilt ( hilts)1598 (up) to the handle1824 to the hilt1950 1824 Coll. Hist. & Misc. Nov. 348 Some of his expressions were that ‘old Capt. Miles was clear grit’ ‘spunk up to the handle’, &c. 1833 Louisville (Kentucky) Public Advertiser 9 May He is determined to carry the contest ‘to the handle’. 1855 Knickerbocker 45 435 He was enjoying his trip ‘up to the handle’. 1877 J. Habberton Jericho Road xi. 101 If he isn't playin' possum right up to the handle, then he is a fool. 1910 J. C. Lincoln Depot Master i. 5 The place was mortgaged up to the handle. 1946 Dunkirk (N.Y.) Evening Observer 11 Jan. 14/3 I have never yet found a Nisei who did not do his full duty right up to the handle. P3. With reference to the head of an axe or other tool becoming detached from its handle. a. Originally U.S. off the handle: emotionally or mentally unstable; in a state of strong emotion; uncontrolled. ΚΠ 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. iv. 107 How they [sc. the Indians] pulled foot, when they seed us commin'. Most off the handle, some o' the tribe, I guess. 1851 H. D. Thoreau Jrnl. 7 June (1990) III. 244 I am off the handle as the phrase is—I begin to be transcendental and show where my heart is. 1882 in J. W. Bixler Decisions Dept. Interior (1903) XIII. 505 Ernest..stated soldier was ‘off the handle half the time’. 1915 A. Conan Doyle Valley of Fear i. v. 82 A kind of wave of jealousy would pass over him and he would be off the handle and saying the wildest things in a moment. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1961) 302 That was enough to set her completely off the handle. She said we were making fun of her. 2005 Liverpool Echo (Nexis) 23 Dec. 3 I'm a bit more laid-back and not so off-the-handle. b. Originally U.S. to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle: to become carried away by excitement; to lose self-control; (now usually) to lose one's temper, esp. suddenly and violently. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry wrethec900 wrothc975 abelghec1300 to move one's blood (also mood)c1330 to peck moodc1330 gremec1460 to take firea1513 fumec1522 sourdc1540 spitec1560 to set up the heckle1601 fire1604 exasperate1659 to fire up1779 to flash up1822 to get one's dander up1831 to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832 to have (also get) one's monkey up1833 to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837 rile1837 to go off the handle1839 to flare up1840 to set one's back up1845 to run hot1855 to wax up1859 to get one's rag out1862 blow1871 to get (also have) the pricker1871 to turn up rough1872 to get the needle1874 to blaze up1878 to get wet1898 spunk1898 to see red1901 to go crook1911 to get ignorant1913 to hit the ceiling1914 to hit the roof1921 to blow one's top1928 to lose one's rag1928 to lose one's haira1930 to go up in smoke1933 hackle1935 to have, get a cob on1937 to pop (also blow) one's cork1938 to go hostile1941 to go sparec1942 to do one's bun1944 to lose one's wool1944 to blow one's stack1947 to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950 rear1953 to get on ignorant1956 to go through the roof1958 to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964 to lose ita1969 to blow a gasket1975 to throw a wobbler1985 1832 Boston Investigator 13 July He soon had a call at Cincinnati, Ohio, as president of a theological college, and, of course, flew off the handle. 1860 M. Halstead Hist. National Polit. Convent. 47 He is full of fire and prone to fly off the handle. 1898 R. Kipling Day's Work 89 How are we to do our work if you fly off the handle that way? 1911 C. W. Tyler Scout xxii. 208 ‘Whoever said it told a damn lie,’ cried Bob flying off at the handle. 1963 L. Spigelgass Dear me, Sky is Falling i. 19 You always jump off the handle!.. There's the door—slam it! 1978 J. G. MacGregor John Rowand iii. 32 Robertson, flying off the handle, refused to take any responsibility in this situation where all his advice was rejected. 2010 Jewish Chron. 8 Oct. 20/4 I do fly off the handle in real life—in boardroom situations, or when I get angry with inefficiency. c. to go off the handle. (a) Originally U.S. = to fly off the handle at Phrases 3b. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry wrethec900 wrothc975 abelghec1300 to move one's blood (also mood)c1330 to peck moodc1330 gremec1460 to take firea1513 fumec1522 sourdc1540 spitec1560 to set up the heckle1601 fire1604 exasperate1659 to fire up1779 to flash up1822 to get one's dander up1831 to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832 to have (also get) one's monkey up1833 to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837 rile1837 to go off the handle1839 to flare up1840 to set one's back up1845 to run hot1855 to wax up1859 to get one's rag out1862 blow1871 to get (also have) the pricker1871 to turn up rough1872 to get the needle1874 to blaze up1878 to get wet1898 spunk1898 to see red1901 to go crook1911 to get ignorant1913 to hit the ceiling1914 to hit the roof1921 to blow one's top1928 to lose one's rag1928 to lose one's haira1930 to go up in smoke1933 hackle1935 to have, get a cob on1937 to pop (also blow) one's cork1938 to go hostile1941 to go sparec1942 to do one's bun1944 to lose one's wool1944 to blow one's stack1947 to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950 rear1953 to get on ignorant1956 to go through the roof1958 to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964 to lose ita1969 to blow a gasket1975 to throw a wobbler1985 1839 Cleveland (Ohio) Daily Herald 13 Dec. If you have [seen a duck swim a mill-dam] you can git some idea how the lazy coot danced. I thought I should go off the handle tu see him. 1888 R. Kipling Phantom 'Rickshaw 2 Pansay went off the handle,..all that nonsense about ghosts developed. 1910 C. E. Mulford Hopalong Cassidy ix. 63 He'll go off th' handle one of these days, for he hates Greasers worse'n I do. 1968 W. Graham Crimson Hairs i. 9 There would be nothing unusual in your having an affair with this man,..[and] your husband going off the handle completely and killing the guy. 1995 C. Bateman Cycle of Violence xi. 195 My dad went off the handle, really off the handle, after everything that had happened. †(b) U.S. To die. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)] forsweltc888 sweltc888 adeadeOE deadc950 wendeOE i-wite971 starveOE witea1000 forfereOE forthfareOE forworthc1000 to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE queleOE fallOE to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE to shed (one's own) blood?a1100 diec1135 endc1175 farec1175 to give up the ghostc1175 letc1200 aswelta1250 leavea1250 to-sweltc1275 to-worthc1275 to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290 finea1300 spilla1300 part?1316 to leese one's life-daysa1325 to nim the way of deathc1325 to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330 flit1340 trance1340 determinec1374 disperisha1382 to go the way of all the eartha1382 to be gathered to one's fathers1382 miscarryc1387 shut1390 goa1393 to die upa1400 expirea1400 fleea1400 to pass awaya1400 to seek out of lifea1400–50 to sye hethena1400 tinea1400 trespass14.. espirec1430 to end one's days?a1439 decease1439 to go away?a1450 ungoc1450 unlivec1450 to change one's lifea1470 vade1495 depart1501 to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513 to decease this world1515 to go over?1520 jet1530 vade1530 to go westa1532 to pick over the perch1532 galpa1535 to die the death1535 to depart to God1548 to go home1561 mort1568 inlaikc1575 shuffle1576 finish1578 to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587 relent1587 unbreathe1589 transpass1592 to lose one's breath1596 to make a die (of it)1611 to go offa1616 fail1623 to go out1635 to peak over the percha1641 exita1652 drop1654 to knock offa1657 to kick upa1658 to pay nature her due1657 ghost1666 to march off1693 to die off1697 pike1697 to drop off1699 tip (over) the perch1699 to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703 sink1718 vent1718 to launch into eternity1719 to join the majority1721 demise1727 to pack off1735 to slip one's cable1751 turf1763 to move off1764 to pop off the hooks1764 to hop off1797 to pass on1805 to go to glory1814 sough1816 to hand in one's accounts1817 to slip one's breatha1819 croak1819 to slip one's wind1819 stiffen1820 weed1824 buy1825 to drop short1826 to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839 to get one's (also the) call1839 to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840 to unreeve one's lifeline1840 to step out1844 to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845 to hand in one's checks1845 to go off the handle1848 to go under1848 succumb1849 to turn one's toes up1851 to peg out1852 walk1858 snuff1864 to go or be up the flume1865 to pass outc1867 to cash in one's chips1870 to go (also pass over) to the majority1883 to cash in1884 to cop it1884 snuff1885 to belly up1886 perch1886 to kick the bucket1889 off1890 to knock over1892 to pass over1897 to stop one1901 to pass in1904 to hand in one's marble1911 the silver cord is loosed1911 pip1913 to cross over1915 conk1917 to check out1921 to kick off1921 to pack up1925 to step off1926 to take the ferry1928 peg1931 to meet one's Maker1933 to kiss off1935 to crease it1959 zonk1968 cark1977 to cark it1979 to take a dirt nap1981 1848 Floridian 1 Apr. 1/5 A distant and wealthy relative, who ‘Went off the handle’ in England, rather unexpectedly. 1872 O. W. Holmes Poet at Breakfast-table x. 331 My old gentleman means to be Mayor..before he goes off the handle. P4. Originally U.S. to get a handle on and variants: to gain control or influence over (a person or situation); to acquire the means of understanding or dealing with (someone or something). ΘΚΠ society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > get into one's or its control temea1387 to take hold1577 to lay, fasten a gripe on, upona1586 amenage1590 to get (a person, etc.) where the hair is short1872 cinch1875 to get a handle on1901 to sew up1904 1901 Mt. Holyoke Dec. 174 We 're on the track of a find... Thought I'd try to get a handle on it for you, dontcherknow, Halliwell. 1928 Amazing Stories Aug. 421/1 You can get a handle of some kind on any living man. 1966 Pop. Sci. Apr. 120/1 How can we get a good handle on space-flight hazards? 1988 D. French Working (1991) ix. 284 I usually tried to focus on something the client had some pride in—his occupation, his apartment, his appearance, his hobby. Anything I could get a handle on. 2006 P. Williams Rise & Fall Yummy Mummy lxii. 275 The lie hurts. But I can't explain the truth, partly because I haven't got a handle on it myself. Compounds C1. attributive. a. With the sense ‘relating to, situated at, or forming a handle’. handle end n. ΚΠ 1658 G. Atwell Faithfull Surveyour xxix. 94 Having fastened your haling-line both to the crone and to the stale of it, by knitting a knot at the handle-end. 1771 P. Luckombe Hist. & Art of Printing 402 He rears up the Handle end of his Galley with his left hand. 1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 325 The patterns he puts at the handle-end of his swords. 1999 Mirror 15 June 24/3 To avoid damaging your hair when backcombing, use the handle end of a tail comb to separate out a small section of hair with the other end. handle hand n. ΚΠ 1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. i. 16 You must dip your Handle-hand, and mount your end hand a little. 1895 G. A. Sala Thorough Good Cook (1896) 237 Practised hands slant the pan downwards from the handle, taking care, however, that the best of the fire is beneath the upper or handle hand. 2009 J. K. Haverington How to make Slingbow 36 Extend the handle hand out to arms length and at the same time be pulling the draw-string tight. handle piece n. ΚΠ 1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales I. 45 Ash for the bottom or handle-piece. 1917 Libr. Jrnl. Dec. 967/2 We made a stretcher-box by nailing two long handlepieces to the sides of a packing box. 2006 Rowing News Oct. 49 I filled in the space between the inside of the handle piece and the outside of the blade piece with a strip of plastic. handle stick n. ΚΠ 1879 Colonies & India 1 Mar. 4/1 A supply of ordinary paper umbrellas..are dropped over the tree, the handle-stick being pushed down through its centre. 1925 Pop. Sci. Monthly Feb. 119/1 The baseboard is nailed to the handle stick, as shown, and the tins are nailed or screwed to the base. 2005 D. Mcallester in J. T. Titon Worlds of Music ii. 59 The peyote rattle is made with a small gourd mounted on a handle stick. b. With the sense ‘having a handle’. handle cup n. ΚΠ 1698 in H. R. Janisch Extracts St. Helena Rec. (1908) 64 Ye said lady had one handle cup, one porenger, one large sault and one tumbler. 1774 H. Walpole Descr. Villa Strawberry-Hill 16 Six coloured handle cups and saucers..of Chantilli china. 1880 Legislative Doc. 18th Gen. Assembly Iowa 548 2 dozen handle cups... 2 dozen goblets. 2008 D. M. Cornish Lamplighter x. 187 ‘Fetch that handle cup.’ He..pointed to a ladle lying by a puncheon of water. handle net n. ΚΠ 1876 W. Renton Oils & Water-colours 68 The fisher is holding his handle-net. 1910 Field & Stream Aug. 17 a/1 (advt.) It will carry any collapsible two piece handle net. 2011 M. J. Killingsworth Going Back to Galveston 29 He calls in Spanish to a young girl who wades out with a handle net. C2. † handleband n. Obsolete rare (historical in later use) a material used for binding the edges of mats, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from flax, hemp, or jute > [noun] > other handleband1532 burlap1695 hop-bagging1705 gunny1711 burrass1808 Hessian1881 hop-sacking1884 1532 in J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices (modernized text) III. 568/2 Handleband. 99lb..@ /4. 1882 in J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices IV. 578 The edges of these mats appear to have been bound with a material called handleband, which..is probably coarse hempen tape. handle dish n. chiefly English regional (Sussex) (rare) a bowl or dish having a handle; spec. one used to take water out of a boiler. ΚΠ 1875 W. D. Parish Dict. Sussex Dial. 53 Handle-dish, a bowl with a handle. 1983 Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, Indiana) 23 Nov. 12/3 Primitives and collectibles... Handle basket, Goofus dish, handle dish. 1994 C. Upton et al. Surv. Eng. Dial.: Dict. & Gram. Handle-dish, a scoop used to take water out of a boiler [Durham, Sussex]. handle-bound adj. rare †(a) tied to or round a handle (obsolete); (b) having a handle bound with cord, etc. ΚΠ 1675 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ (ed. 2) xii. 257 You must be sure that your Hooks be strong, and your Lines may be of good, fine and strong handle-bound Pack-thread. 1905 Bystander 21 June 614/2 (advt.) Four best octagon handle-bound mallets. Derivatives ˈhandleless adj. without a handle. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [adjective] > handle or stock > provided with > not unstaved1481 handleless1825 unhafted1894 1825 N. M. Hentz Tadeuskund ii. 18 A head-piece, in the shape of a handleless frying-pan. 1921 Pop. Mech. May Contents 3/1 Automobile, Handleless door has wire operated latch. 2002 S. Goss Brit. Tea & Coffee Cups 4 The attractive and delicate porcelain spouted pots and handleless cups brought from China were much admired. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022). handlen.² Brit. /ˈhandl/, U.S. /ˈhændəl/ Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: handle v.¹ Etymology: < handle v.¹ The way that goods, esp. textiles, feel to the touch when handled. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > quality of being tangible > [noun] > sensation produced by object touched touchingc1325 gripe1632 feel1739 handle1823 handling1824 hand1949 1823 New Monthly Mag. 9 244/2 The heating woollen cloths after the wool or pile is raised by dressing..closing the texture of the cloth, and giving it a soft handle. 1869 Rep. Royal Comm. Water Supply 300/1 Cleansing your articles in order to give them a better handle. 1898 Daily News 7 Mar. 2/1 For softness and beautiful handle they have no equal. 1927 T. Woodhouse Artificial Silk: Manuf. & Uses 2 The handle of many artificial silk articles of commerce compares favourably with that of most of the corresponding textures in the other branches of the textile industry. 1961 Times 26 Oct. p. iv A new type of paper..which had all the qualities—good surface and opacity, good colour and crispness of ‘handle’. 2001 Techn. Guide (YHA Adventure Shops) Summer 7/1 Modern waterproof garments..come in a wide variety of materials; there is considerable variation between them in terms of breathability, durability, handle etc. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022). handlev.¹ Brit. /ˈhandl/, U.S. /ˈhændəl/ Forms: Old English handlian, late Old English andlian, early Middle English handeli (south-western), early Middle English handli (south-western), early Middle English hanlie (south-west midlands), early Middle English hanndlenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English heondle (south-west midlands), early Middle English hondli (south-west midlands), early Middle English hondlie (south-west midlands), Middle English handly (southern), Middle English hondel, Middle English hondele, Middle English hondle, Middle English 1600s hanle, Middle English–1500s handele, Middle English–1500s handelle, Middle English–1500s handil, Middle English–1500s handill, Middle English–1500s handyl, Middle English–1500s handyll, Middle English–1500s handylle, Middle English–1600s handel, Middle English–1600s handell, Middle English– handle; English regional (northern and north midlands) 1800s– han'le, 1800s– hannel, 1800s– hann'l, 1800s– hannle, 1800s– hann'le; Scottish pre-1700 handall, pre-1700 handell, pre-1700 handil, pre-1700 handill, pre-1700 handille, pre-1700 handyll, pre-1700 hanel, pre-1700 hanteil, pre-1700 1700s– handle, pre-1700 1700s– hanle, pre-1700 (1900s– Shetland) handel, 1800s han'le, 1800s hannle, 1800s hawnle, 1800s– haunle, 1900s– haandle (Shetland), 1900s– hannel, 1900s– haunel. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian handelia to treat (a person) in a specified way, to negotiate, to do, carry out (an action) (West Frisian handelje , hannelje , in same senses as the modern Dutch verb cited below), Old Dutch handalon to treat (a person) badly (Middle Dutch handelen also to touch or feel (something) with the hand or hands, to take (something) in the hand or hands, to treat (a person or subject) in a specified way, (used reflexively) to behave, Dutch handelen , also to trade (1573)), Old Saxon handlon to touch or feel (something) with the hand or hands (Middle Low German handelen , also to do, carry out (an action), to deal with (a subject), to treat (a person) in a specified way, to behave in a specified way, to trade), Old High German hantolōn , handelōn to take (something) in the hands, to touch (something) with the hands, to treat (a person) in a specified way (Middle High German handeln , also to do, carry out (an action), to deal with, treat (a subject), German handeln , also to trade (15th cent.)), Old Icelandic hǫndla to lay hold of, and also Old Swedish handla (Swedish handla ), Old Danish hanlæ (Danish handle ), the senses of which parallel, and are largely after, the senses of the Middle Low German and German verbs, all < the Germanic base of hand n. + the Germanic base of -le suffix 3 (compare similarly kneel v.).In Old English the prefixed form gehandlian i-handle v. is also attested, in sense ‘to treat in speech or writing, to discuss’ (compare sense 6). In Dutch and German, the senses in branch II. are now usually expressed by the prefixed verbs Dutch behandelen (1624; rare before late 18th cent.) and German behandeln (18th cent.) respectively; compare be- prefix. With sense 9 perhaps compare the specific sense ‘to trade’ of Dutch handelen and German handeln (see above), and also earlier handler n.¹ I. To manipulate, manage. 1. a. transitive. To touch or feel with the hand or hands; to pick up, hold, turn over, etc., in the hand or hands; to use the hands on for some purpose.to handle without gloves, to handle without mittens: see the nouns. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] > examine by gropec1000 handleOE tastec1290 feela1400 grob1654 explore1689 grubblea1690 pouter1808 palpate1850 fingle1907 OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xxvii. 12 Gyf min fæder me handlað [L. adtractaverit] & me gecnæwð, ic ondræde þæt he wene þæt ic hyne wylle beswican. OE Poenitentiale Pseudo-Egberti (Laud) iii. 12 Hit alyfed nis þæt ænig læwede wif..godes geryno on cristes weofode handlian sceole. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 18913 Þatt menn himm mihhtenn cnawenn. & hanndlenn himm. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 235 Clerkes y-hoded..handleþ and be-takeþ to hare honden þe þinges þet byeþ y-halȝed. c1410 (c1350) Gamelyn (Harl. 7334) l. 82 [He] bygan wiþ his hond to handlen his berde. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 203 He..handeled the kynge so harde that he crusshed his rybbes. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 578/1 She can handell a chylde dayntely. 1556 Digest Decisions Justiciary Court B. 128, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Handil Handling hir sa vncorteslie swa that he brak hir bak. 1566 J. Barthlet Pedegrewe Heretiques f. 20^v They which bene in the same orders, doe handle the consecrated vessels and holy Sacramentes. 1656 J. Evelyn Ess. 1st Bk. Lucretius 128 Our Poet goes on to illustrate his former assertion..by the curious decrement of such things as we continually touch and handle. 1717 tr. A. F. Frézier Voy. South-Sea 118 I have handled and felt it. 1766 Ann. Reg. 1765 113/1 The bricks are often brought to the bricklayers, before they are cold enough to be handled. 1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Reissil, to make a loud clattering noise, as if one were breaking what is handled. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 164 The first point..handled is the end of the rump at the tail head. 1888 J. W. Burgon Lives Twelve Good Men I. i. 41 It is impossible to handle these volumes without the deepest interest. 1910 ‘Westerner’ Handling Hog from Start to Finish 33 The ‘green meat’ inspector..handles every ham and inspects it, and then throws it into the box to which it belongs. 1944 Newsweek 26 June 80 A new industrial disease called bagasse was reported..among sugarcane workers who handled..the fibrous material. 1971 L. Koppett N.Y. Times Guide Spectator Sports ii. 48 The quarterback now handles the ball on every play. 2011 Western Times (Queensland) (Nexis) 30 June 7 Handle the seedlings with the greatest of care. †b. intransitive. To touch or hold with the hand or hands; to exercise the faculty of touching. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (intransitive)] gropec825 handlea1300 taste1377 grappe1382 grasp1382 grubblea1690 a1300 Passion our Lord 607 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 54 (MED) Hondleþ nv and iseoþ þat gost naueþ none bon Ne vleys. a1425 (a1400) Titus & Vespasian l. 1532 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1904) 112 30 (MED) Wiþ mowþe to taste drynke and mete..Wiþ hondes to handel, with feet to go. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cxiii. 15 [cxv. 7] They haue handes and handle not. 1614 J. Norden Load-starre to Spirituall Life To Rdr. sig. A8^v The eare to heare, the eye to behold, the hand to handle, the mind to consider, and the will to embrace. 1749 D. Hartley Observ. Man i. iii. 386 A Brute is supposed to speak..or to handle. 1832 Philos. Mag. Mar. 174 The organ instantaneously acts, whether it be the hand to handle, the foot to walk [etc.]. c. transitive. To accustom (a horse or occasionally other animal) to being touched and controlled, as part of a taming or training process. Cf. break v. 14a. Now rare. ΚΠ ?1555 T. Paynell tr. J. L. Vives Office of Husband sig. Niij^v The Breaker of horsses..doeth handle the rough and sturdy colte with all crafte & fearcenes that maye be. 1566 T. Blundeville Bredynge of Horses iv. f. 4^v, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe You may begyn to handle your horse when he is full .ii. yeares olde. 1621 G. Markham Hungers Preuention 269 When you haue thus made a good election of your Dogge, you shall beginne to handle and instruct him at foure monethes olde. ?1673 W. Temple Ess. Advancement Trade Irel. 23 The hardness of the Winters..forces the breeders there to house and handle their Colts for at least six months every year. 1703 J. Moore Englands Interest 77 It is therefore your Business to Handle and tame all your stud Mares. 1818 ‘W. H. Scott’ Sportsman's Cal. 132 Foals are weaned at the end of the grass season, and should be handled and headstalled as soon as possible. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer 93 I'll do nothing but handle him [sc. a horse] to-day. 1907 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 31 Aug. 3/6 The affording of time and means to properly handle and break young horses [etc.]. d. transitive. To hold and incite (a gamecock, dog, etc.) in a fight or contest; to hold and be in charge of (a dog) at a trial or show, or while it performs its work.In later use, esp. with reference to working dogs, often merging with sense 3a. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting or baiting animals > fighting between animals > fight between animals [verb (transitive)] > set animals to fight handle1756 fight1828 1756 W. Toldervy Hist. Two Orphans III. xxviii. 142 O! he handled a fighting cock excellently well! 1795 R. Cumberland Henry I. ii. ii. 71 No man handled a fighting cock like Bowsey; and at the country races he hawked about lists of the sporting ladies. 1825 in W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 992 The dogs to be handled by Mr. Edwards [at a baiting]. 1864 Coursing Cal. Spring 63 Mr Bennett, as judge, gave every satisfaction, and Raper handled his dogs in his usual masterly style. 1914 Dog Fancier Mar. 17/1 The match was made by Dr. C. H. Sherman..and Colonel was secured for the fight by Mr. Bowser. Mr. Bowser also conditioned him and was to have handled the dog. 1954 C. L. B. Hubbard Compl. Dog Breeders' Man. 202 A woman exhibitor can handle her dog well, feel comfortable, and please the ringsiders..by wearing a simple but practical outfit. 1978 D. J. Garrow Protest at Selma iv. 149 The [police] officer handling the dog grasped the collar of the victim's shirt. 2001 W. F. Stifel Dog Show i. 19/1 Stephen T. Hammond..trained and handled the dog for the event. 2. a. transitive. To hold and use (a tool, weapon, instrument, etc.) with the hand; to wield; to manipulate. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or control > [verb (transitive)] > by hand handlec1275 manhandle?a1500 c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 671 He hihte hondlien [c1300 Otho handli] kablen. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 347 Þe beste knicth Þat euere micte..handlen spere. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. 4995 For to restreyne his renomed noblesse Þilke day to handle spere nor shelde. c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 2594 That ypermystra dar nat handele a knyf. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Chron. ix. C The children of Vlam were valeaunt men, and coulde handell bowes. a1568 R. Ascham in A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. (1576) 437 That I may see..how well you handle your penne. 1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes v. xi. 421 More fit..to handle a mattocke then to hold a musket. 1681 R. Knox Hist. Relation Ceylon iii. viii. 97 At this time none will work, until their Astrologers tell them, it is a good hour to handle their Tools. 1732 Let. 24 July in J. Wesley Extracts Jrnl. (1749) 61 As soon as they could handle a knife and fork, they were set to our table. 1799 W. Tatham Plan Improving City of London 98 A common smith, who, though accustomed to handle the hammer, has never been used to make nails. 1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain II. vi. 101 We saw others in the fields handling their rude ploughs. 1872 Evening Standard 10 Aug. 8/3 Her Royal Highness..appears to handle the ribbons in a very skilful manner. 1910 Judge 9 Apr. 8/2 A vacuum was the only thing she could be trusted to handle with safety. 1927 Amer. Speech 2 312/2 The ‘scrub nurse’ is she who handles the instruments and works within the sterile field. 2011 Independent (Nexis) 8 June 18 One skilled player handles the controls whilst another keeps a close eye on the screen's visual backdrop. b. transitive. Military. To take hold of (a weapon, etc.), esp. when commanded to do so as part of a drill; spec. to put one's right hand on the muzzle of (one's firearm). Chiefly in imperative, (in later use) esp. in handle arms! Cf. shoulder v. 8. Now rare.Quot. 1621 may be an example of sense 2a. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > drill or training > drill [verb (transitive)] > position weapons charge1509 trailc1550 present1579 recover1594 return1598 handle1621 rest1622 port1625 slope1625 reverse1630 to order arms1678 carry1779 1621 J. Reynolds Triumphs Gods Revenge: 1st Bk. i. i. 5 He onely practiseth..tossing the Pike, handling his Musket, ordering of Ranke and File. 1635 W. Barriffe Mil. Discipline ii. 7 Handle your pikes. 1676 Abridgem. Eng. Mil. Discipline 4 Handle your Primer. Prime your Pan. 1684 R. Howlett School Recreat. 46 Handle your Charger, Gripe fast your Bandilier or Charger, hold it even with the Muzzle. 1684 R. Howlett School Recreat. 48 Handle your Musket..step forward, and lay your Right-hand on the Muzzle. 1773 R. Lambart New Syst. Mil. Discipline iii. 85 Handle the musket as is directed in the second and third motions of the tenth word of command. 1822 Gen. Regulations & Orders for Army 220 To all Field-Officers,..Sentinels are to pay the Compliment of presenting their Arms; to all other Officers they are to carry or handle their Arms. 1853 J. H. Stocqueler Mil. Encycl. 129/1 Handle Arms!..by which the soldier is directed to bring his right hand briskly up to the muzzle of his firelock, with his fingers bent inwards. 1900 J. W. Chapman Present Day Parables 121 The general lifted his voice and addressed them: ‘Twenty-third, handle arms!’ c. Sport. (a) transitive. Cricket. To field or bowl (a ball). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > fielding > field [verb (transitive)] > catch or throw ball handle1776 1776 T. Fisher Kentish Traveller's Compan. ii. 35 For expertly handling the ball, the inhabitants of this county have always been famous. 1788 Ipswich Jrnl. 23 Aug. Their opponents were superior to them in handling the ball. 1841 Manchester Chron. 24 July John Ogden..handled the ball well [i.e. as bowler]. 1902 Gardeners' Chron. 6 Sept. 186/2 Howie (Captain), and Fielder handled the ball with great skill. 2011 Times of India (Nexis) 19 Oct. It is easy to handle the ball for 25 overs rather than 50. (b) transitive. Cricket. Of a batter: to touch or pick up (the ball) with the hand without the consent of the opposing team.Under the Laws of Cricket, a batter has been liable to being dismissed for this action since the earliest known Laws of 1744. Until 2017, there was an individual Law devoted to the matter (under various wordings). From 2017, this method of dismissal was merged into the Law for ‘Obstructing the Field’. A batter dismissed after handling the ball will now be adjudicated out for ‘obstructing the field’. ΚΠ 1797 Kentish Chron. 8 Sept. (table) Mr. Horn..handling the b[all] in play. 1868 C. Box Theory & Pract. Cricket 134 No batsman has any right whatever to handle the ball while a match is in progress. 1884 H. Chadwick Sports & Pastimes Amer. Boys 77 Either batsman is out..if he touch or take up the ball while in play, unless at the request of the opposite side—‘handled the ball’. 1928 Sporting Globe (Melbourne) 18 Jan. 8/6 One of the South Launceston batsmen was given out for handling the ball. He picked it up and threw it back to the bowler, and on appeal by the opposing side, he was given out by the umpire. 1965 Times 21 Aug. 2 (heading) Rees given out for handling the ball. Cricket echo of 1907. 1998 P. Snow Time of Renewal i. 20 It is permissible for a batsman to hit the ball twice or kick the ball away (but not handle it). (c) transitive. Chiefly Association Football. To touch (the ball) with the hand or lower arm in contravention of the rules of the game. Also intransitive. Cf. handball n. 6, handling n.¹ 1c. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > association football > play association football [verb (transitive)] > actions to ball smother1845 handle1869 middle1869 fist1909 volley1909 sidefoot1913 clear1947 convert1950 trap1950 square1972 welly1986 1869 Harrovian 13 Nov. 40/2 The evil practice of handling the ball was pursued throughout the game by both sides. 1877 Vagabond Papers 3rd Ser. 15 This might easily be avoided by the game being confined to what it should be—football; no one being allowed to handle the ball or to lay hands upon an antagonist. 1915 Spalding's Official ‘Soccer’ Football Guide 127 The free kick is awarded for..charging an opponent illegally from behind, or handling the ball. 1990 News of World 8 Apr. 44/1 There was no way I handled... I..couldn't believe it when I saw the ref had given a penalty. 2012 Guardian (Nexis) 27 Dec. 42 The Reading striker was..booked for handling the ball into the net. d. transitive. Tanning. To agitate (a hide) while it is being soaked in weak tanning liquor. Cf. handler n.¹ 3. Now historical. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with skins > work with skins [verb (transitive)] > convert to leather > specific processes in tanning pile1773 handle1824 to lay away1885 1824 J. Burridge Tanner's Key vi. 56 Tannin always sinks to the bottoms and whenever tanners handle their leather they plunge or stir the liquors up well..before they add any bark to their dusters. 1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 764 They [sc. the hides]..are successively transferred into other pits with stronger ooze; all the while being daily handled, that is, moved up and down in the infusion. 1922 A. Rogers Pract. Tanning viii. 226 The skins are started in weak hemlock liquor, and then passed into a stronger liquor.., care being taken to handle the skins every day until they are tanned. 3. a. transitive. To exert authority or control over (a person, animal, etc.); to control (a vessel or vehicle); to manage. ΘΚΠ society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > manage or administer steerc888 leadc1175 guyc1330 guidec1374 governa1382 ministera1382 treat1387 administer1395 dispose1398 skift?a1400 warda1400 solicit1429 to deal with1469 handlea1470 execute1483 convoy?a1513 conveyc1515 mayne1520 to bear (a person or thing) in (also an, a, on) handa1522 keepa1535 administrate1538 solicitate1547 to dispose of1573 manure1583 carry1600 manage1609 negotiate1619 conduct1632 to carry on1638 mesnage1654 nurse1745 work1841 operate1850 run1857 stage-manage1906 ramrod1920 a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 532 I thanke you, sir Dynadan, but ye shall undirstond that I am able to handyll hym. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxix^v Yet at many tymes they [sc. mares] may drawe well, if they be well handeled. 1648 L. Awdeley True Relation Honorable Comm. Derby House 4 The Enemy was afraid of us, and we of them doubting them too strong for us to handle. 1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. 17 Thus you see the Ship handled in fair weather and foul. 1718 J. B. Weston Abstr. Doctr. Jesus-Christ x. 404 They forget their Inferiours are Men who put their precious Liberty..into their hands as a Pledge, and that they must very skilfully handle them. 1771 R. Berenger Hist. & Art Horsemanship I. 169 They [sc. the horses] all having been carefully handled, dressed, or maneged as we call it. 1823 Examiner 320/1 A large frigate,..lubberly handled. 1874 G. J. Whyte-Melville Uncle John II. xvi. 141 A smarter officer never handled a regiment. 1903 Transport World 6 Aug. 146/1 He here learns to handle the car through traffic. 1940 R. Wright Native Son ii. 124 She was afraid and he could handle her through her fear. 1986 S. Penman Here be Dragons (1991) (U.K. ed.) ii. viii. 660 There's no great trick to handling a bolting horse. I need only get him turning in circles, let him tire himself out. 2011 Daily Mail (Nexis) 8 Nov. Figures show 10 per cent of teachers leave the profession after a year—often because they cannot handle a class. b. transitive (reflexive). Frequently with complement. To behave, conduct oneself in a specified manner. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > behave or conduct oneself [verb (reflexive)] wieldOE leadc1175 bear?c1225 steera1250 to take onc1275 contain1297 to shift one's handa1300 demeanc1320 guyc1325 govern1340 keep1362 havec1390 rulec1390 guide14.. conceivea1425 maintain?a1425 maynea1425 behavec1440 disporta1450 orderc1487 use1497 handle?1529 convey1530 gesture1542 treat1568 carry1584 deport1598 bestow1606 comport1616 mienc1680 conduct1706 ?1529 R. Hyrde tr. J. L. Vives Instr. Christen Woman Pref. sig. B.iiij So you haue handled your selfe in all thordre and course of your lyfe. 1593 T. Lodge Life & Death William Long Beard sig. D^v Gerard de Antiloche..handled himselfe with such grauitie..that the commons for the most part withdrew them to their owne houses. 1651 tr. P. Ramus Dialectica i. xix, in Compend. Art of Logick & Rhetorick in Eng. Tongue 42 Neither did he so handle himself to the people onely, but also to the Senate. 1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Reformation: 3rd Pt. ii. 65 Mixing Threatnings with Promises, if they should not uprightly, according to Divine Learning, handle themselves. 1838 Light from West Jan. 17 He made a stout, witty, and godly answer, and yet in such sort handled himself that at that time he was clearly dismissed. 1928 Los Angeles Times 13 Feb. ii. 4/4 The..folks who make a business of telling you how to so handle yourself that you'll rise from a $15 clerk to the vice-presidency of the whole blest plant. a1985 Z. Simms in I. Gitler Swing to Bop (1987) vii. 238 Serge..could be..a lot of fun. He knew how to handle himself. 2000 D. Adebayo My Once upon Time (2001) v. 103 It would have required some high-quality nerves to have handled himself so amicably when we ran into each other last night. c. transitive. To direct, take charge of (an undertaking, operation, course of action, etc.); to carry out, perform.Sometimes (esp. in later use) difficult to distinguish from sense 7b.too hot to handle: see hot adj. and n.¹ Phrases 10. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)] > conduct (an affair) demeanc1315 to see for ——1405 to go in hand with (also to do something)c1450 treatc1450 behavea1529 ordera1535 handle1548 manage1579 to bear forth1631 conduct1632 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. ccx The assessement of whiche fines, were appoynted to Thomas Cromwell,..whiche so pollitikely handeled the matter, that he raised..a greate somme of money. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias lxi. f. 125^v The skirmish was valiantly handled. 1618 W. Raleigh Observ. Trade & Commerce with Hollander (1653) 24 S. Savors his man knowes it to be true, who handled the businesse for pulling down the Impositions. 1679 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Reformation ii. 76 To proceed slowly, that the world might see with what Moderation as well as Justice, the matter was handled. a1753 S. Bownas Acct. Life (1756) 95 George Fox..desired me to take the Tackling [i.e. fishing tackle] of the Friend, for that he wanted Skill to handle the Matter. 1823 J. L. Parke tr. A. H. Niemeyer Trav. Continent & Eng. 79 Whoever..shews himself the best informed and most capable of handling the business, finally prevails over the votes of the others. 1898 U.S. Investor 23 Apr. 599/3 A syndicate has been formed to handle the process in the United States. 1915–9 J. Buchan Nelson's Hist. War IV. xxxi. 189 General Kamio handled the expedition with perfect judgment. 1943 Triumphs of Engin. 246/2 The American concern handling the scheme..went about matters in workmanlike fashion. 2011 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 6 Nov. (Front section) 28/5 Representatives of smaller groups would form a ‘spokescouncil’ to handle day-to-day operations. d. transitive (reflexive). To have the necessary skills or knowledge to take care of oneself in a difficult situation, hostile conditions, etc.; to acquit or defend oneself well in a fight or conflict. ΚΠ 1884 Rocky Mountain News (Denver) 7 July 6/1 Williams and Johnson had one of their rattling..bouts. And Rooke and McCoy..showed how they could ‘handle themselves’. 1895 J. Otis Jerry's Family xv. 164 I'll knock his two eyes inter one, givin' sich guff 'bout me 'cause I aint got but one leg, an' he thinks I can't handle myself. 1898 A. C. Parkerson How Uncle Sam Fights i. 21 Fencing and boxing are also taught, in order that he may know how to handle himself at close quarters. 1962 M. Z. Bradley Planet Savers iv. 37 What sort of duffer do you take me for? I know how to handle myself in the mountains. 1988 J. D. Pistone & R. Woodley Donnie Brasco (1997) iii. 39 I picked him because he was..sharp on his feet, and could really handle himself. 2003 B. Wagner Still Holding iii. 269 Grady had better not perv on her, but Dixie could handle herself. e. transitive. To cope with (an experience or situation) satisfactorily; to possess the mental or emotional resources necessary to accept or face up to (something challenging or difficult). ΚΠ 1914 Rotarian Sept. 116/2 None but the foolishly nervous can doubt the ability of our banks to handle the situation in a satisfactory manner. 1929 R. S. Lynd & H. M. Lynd Middletown xvi. 222 The invention of the motion picture is introducing the city's population..into types of vivid experience which they..have no training to handle. 1951 Salt Lake Tribune 18 Jan. 10/7 There isn't a minute in the day that someone isn't coming through that door with twice as much work as I can handle. 1971 H. S. Thompson in Rolling Stone 11 Nov. 44/3 Ignore that nightmare in the bathroom. Just another ugly refugee from the Love Generation, some doom-struck gimp who couldn't handle the pressure. 1985 TV Times 31 Aug. 4/1 The public was not ready to see me kiss Michael Caine. People couldn't handle it. 2000 Book Sept. 20/3 Writing Demolition Angel was like writing Requiem—just as hard, but he had shown that he could handle it. 4. transitive. To use, do something competently with; to make appropriate or skilful use of. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or make use of [verb (transitive)] noteOE take?a1160 turnc1175 usec1300 to fare witha1340 benote1340 spenda1400 usea1400 weara1400 naitc1400 occupy1423 to put (also set) in work?a1425 practise?c1430 apply1439 employ?1473 to call upon ——1477 help1489 tew1489 handle1509 exercise1526 improvea1529 serve1538 feed1540 enure1549 to make (also take) (a) use of1579 wield1601 adoperate1612 to avail oneself ofa1616 to avail oneself ofa1616 prevail1617 to make practice of1623 ploy1675 occasion1698 to call on ——1721 subserve1811 nuse1851 utilize1860 1509 Parlyament Deuylles (de Worde) sig. A.iv He [sc. Jesus] handleth neyther money ne knyfe. 1566 T. Blundeville Bredynge of Horses iv. f. 14, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe To reyne well,..to handle his feete orderlye,..and to obey his Riders will at all assayes: proceadeth rather of art then of nature. 1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 3 The devill desires no better sport then to see light heads handle their heeles. 1700 tr. F. de S. de la Mothe-Fénelon Adventures Telemachus (ed. 2) v. 664 Seamen..fall to handling their Ropes, and spreading their Sales. 1747 W. Foot Ess. Educ. 11 Thus he will come by Degrees to handle his Dictionary aright, without Labour or Loss of Time. 1796 Grose's Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue (ed. 3) (at cited word) To know how to handle one's fists; to be skilful in the art of boxing. 1860 J. Ruskin Let. 29 Sept. in A. I. Ritchie Rec. Tennyson, Ruskin, & Browning (1892) 137 It struck me..that you depended too much on blending and too little on handling colour. 1866 Rural Amer. (Utica, N.Y.) 15 Dec. 373/1 It takes a few days for them [sc. horses] to become accustomed to handling their feet with new shoes. 1911 W. James Mem. & Stud. viii. 189 Most of us reveal such a tendency whenever we handle a ouija-board. 1940 M. Hopper How to play Winning Checkers iii. 15 Other ‘two-’ and ‘three-move’ openings are all right later, after the neophyte has learned to handle his checkers. 1984 A. Lee Sarah Phillips (1985) 75 The campers had been handling canoes all summer. 2011 N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 19 Nov. Dick Frizzell's recently published book pays tribute to McIntyre's extraordinary skills in handling paint. 5. intransitive. With complement. a. To have a specified feel when touched or held; to feel to the touch. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > quality of being tangible > have specified feel when touched [verb (intransitive)] handlea1637 touch1794 a1637 G. Markham Compl. Farriar (1639) i. xi. 76 If his flesh generally handle soft, and loose..then is the horse foule without question. 1699 J. Kelly Impartial Rel. Services in Victualling-office 2 Dodson..survey'd it [sc. biscuit], and reports it, as handling cold. 1727 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Oeconomique (Dublin ed.) at Hop-garden If they handle moist or clammy when you squeeze them they are fit to bag. 1777 Farmer's Mag. Apr. 103 Wheat, if it handles cold and heavy, will do best when sown early. 1823 S. Parkes Chem. Ess. (ed. 2) II. xii. 310 The hot soap gives them a gloss which is much approved of and occasions them to handle better than common hose. 1897 Trans. Highland & Agric. Soc. Scotl. 5th Ser. 9 69 A noticeable point about the sheep is the way it handles: it has a firmness of touch difficult to find elsewhere. 1921 America's Textile Reporter 6 Jan. 10/2 The fabric handles thin and firm. 2007 S. Seivewright Basic Fashion Design 23 The textures you research can often inspire new ideas for surface manipulation and the way a fabric handles will help to define..a garment. b. Of a machine, tool, weapon, etc.: to react in a specified way when used or controlled; esp. (of a motor vehicle) to respond in a specified way when driven. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > [verb (intransitive)] > operate under specific conditions behave1854 handle1881 1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 250 If the balance is not the same, they will handle as if of different bends. 1920 Rudder Dec. 56/2 Mr. Marvin..was very much delighted by the way the boat handled when he had her in the race. 1958 Times 23 Sept. 14/2 Sceptre, handling excellently, rounded the mark to the sound of loud hootings. 1997 Details Feb. 167 The Cabriolet..handles more like a rear-wheel-drive car than a front-wheel spinner. 2010 San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News (Nexis) 7 Mar. The game has great mechanics. Guns handle well and the controls are intuitive. II. To deal with, treat. 6. a. transitive. To deal with or treat in speech, writing, or drama; to discuss; to portray; (formerly occasionally) spec. †to discuss in a deliberative assembly, to confer about (obsolete).In later use frequently with reference to literary or dramatic portrayal; cf. sense 8. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > non-fiction > treatise or dissertation > write treatise about or treat of [verb (transitive)] writeOE handleOE treatc1325 treatc1374 entreatc1425 treatise1506 tract1529 pertract1542 overharl1568 entracta1572 to speak to ——1610 OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. ii. 38 Nu wylle ic bysne ætywan ymbe þa þing þe we nu handledon and fæste ymbe wæron. lOE Dispute between Bp. Godwine & Leofwine (Sawyer 1456) in A. Campbell Charters of Rochester (1973) 54 Hy ðær þa spæce swa lange handledon..oþ hy ealle bædon þone biscop eaðmodlice þæt he geunnan scolde þæt he moste..þæs landes brucan. c1391 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Bodl. 294) Prol. l. 65* But he that hath his word unpeysed And handeleþ outkrong [perh. read onwrong] eny thing, I preye un to the hevene king Fro suche tunges he me schilde. 1480 Higden's Discripcion Brit. (Caxton) xiii The cause was handled and ytreated bitwene the forsaid primates. 1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Rv^v The preacher handled his matter learnedlie. 1599 M. Aray Discouerie Tragical Fiction f. 12^v The course & manner of this seemed rather some such matche as Kemp and his compagnions do handle on the stage, then the lyuely managing of a matter of truth in deede. 1621 H. Elsynge Notes Deb. House of Lords (1870) 126 To discusse the matter of oathe..which is appoynted to be handled that daye. 1648 Bp. J. Wilkins Math. Magick i. ii. 12 Astronomy handles the quantity of heavenly motions. 1725 I. Watts Logick iv. ii. §6 The very same theme may be handled..in several different methods. 1780 T. Bell Standard of Spirit Pref. p. iv Had I meant to handle the subject at large, I would have taken a much more extensive range. 1839 J. W. Burgon Life & Times Sir T. Gresham II. 517 The professor of Law..was to handle such legal questions as were most likely to prove interesting and useful to an auditory of merchants and citizens. 1868 J. T. Nettleship Ess. Browning's Poetry Introd. 1 I could not within reasonable limits handle both criticism and interpretation. 1912 New-church Rev. Oct. 576 As religion is seen nearer to life, Swedenborg's manner of handling the theme will be recognized as more and more helpful. 1940 Brass Tacks Oct. 153/1 Van Vogt's stories have been a source of great joy to me, because of the way he handled his human characters. 2007 F. Sieren China Code xi. 289 His first successful Hollywood film..handles the subject of the cultural competition between China and the USA. †b. intransitive. With of, upon, and other prepositions. To discourse or confer about a specified subject. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > conversation > converse [verb (intransitive)] > confer, consult, or deliberate roundc1275 to speak togetherc1275 to take counselc1290 counsel1297 treat1297 advisea1393 communea1393 to take deliberationc1405 common1416 to put (also bring, lay, set, etc.) their (also our, your) heads togetherc1425 janglec1440 bespeak1489 parliamenta1492 intercommonc1540 confer1545 parle1558 consult1565 imparl1572 break parle1594 handle1596 emparley1600 to confer notes1650 to compare notes1709 powwow1780 to get together1816 palaver1877 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 378 Tha hanelit anent the Mariage of the Quene. a1651 C. Love Souls Cordiall (1653) ii. 71 I am to handle on this promise of Christ, but I come againe. 1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid ii. xxvi. 177 In the Chapter which handleth of exiccated Members. 1673 A. Wood Life 12 Oct. They finding that I had handled upon that point, Peers altered it. 7. a. transitive. With adverbial complement. To deal with, treat (a person) in the specified way; to behave in the specified way towards.In earlier use frequently with the implication of physical ill-treatment; cf. quots. a1470, 1556 at sense 1a. ΚΠ c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Royal) 333 Me seli meiden hu derstu nu hondlin me ant halden me swa hardeliche. c1410 (c1350) Gamelyn (Harl. 7334) l. 10 Deth was comen him to and handled him ful sore. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Prov. xxiv. C I wil handle him, euen as he hath dealte w^t me. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. vii. f. 33 The miserable Ilande men, whom they handeled moste cruelly. a1606 J. Lyly Euphues (1636) sig. E5 I brought thee vp like a Cokes [i.e. cockney], and thou hast handled mee like a Cockscombe. 1697 J. Potter Archæologiæ Græcæ I. i. ix. 47 Being of Opinion, that he had been Shrewdly handled by the Divine Vengeance. 1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi ii. App. 70/1 Sir William was very hardly Handled..in the Liberty which People took to make most..injurious Reflections upon his Conduct. 1797 G. Baker tr. Livy Hist. Rome VI. xlviii. 325 Cato had..handled him with great severity. 1861 J. Tulloch Eng. Puritanism iv. 417 He was handled twenty times worse than he had been before. 1894 R. Bridges Feast of Bacchus i. 405 Handle him kindly. 1918 Jrnl. Amer. Soc. Mech. Engineers Apr. 337/1 (advt.) Must be able to handle tactfully executives and employees. 1945 S. O' Casey Drums under Windows 290 He was rudely handled by a rough-shouting doctor. 2001 A. Wright & R. Fenby tr. L. de Witte Assassination Lumumba v. 103 He was nothing more than a mere prisoner whom it is appropriate to handle harshly. b. transitive. To deal with, treat; to subject to some process or operation. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > do [verb (transitive)] > perform practical operations upon workeOE manurea1450 handle1483 subact1614 the world > action or operation > manner of action > [verb (transitive)] > deal with or treat leada1225 playc1400 steada1475 handle1483 the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)] > conduct (an affair) > deal with (a matter) takec1175 speedc1374 handc1440 to deal with1469 deduce1528 deal1586 wield1595 cope with1641 tractate1657 handlea1774 job1825 absorb1826 address1838 1483 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1869) I. 49 That na fleschour bye na fische to sell and regraitt agane, bot to brek thame allanerly for thair fie..and handell thame honestly. 1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth xi. sig. F.iv It wyll make good drynke or euyl, euery thinge as it is handled. 1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 53 With the French, lesse [meat], but well handled. 1665 R. Hooke Micrographia Pref. sig. D2 So vast is the variety of Objects..so many different wayes there are of handling them. 1726 D. Defoe Mere Nature Delineated 3 The Man is a Rational, or a Stupid, just as he is handled by his Teachers. a1774 Z. Pearce Serm. (1778) III. xv. 294 [He] fears to expose a good cause by his method of handling it. 1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 165 You would be as much afraid of handling this matter, as if it were glowing iron. 1879 Athenæum 8 Nov. 603/3 The most difficult of all musical forms to handle successfully. 1912 J. B. Thiess & G. A. Joy Toll Telephone Pract. i. 3 In many cases the toll and the long distance business are handled at different switchboards. 1959 Rotarian Feb. 54/3 If you handle cases of those crimes in the same manner as you handle less heinous cases..you are committing a three-pronged injustice. 1981 R. D. Edwards Corridors of Death vi. 29 The need for tact and sensitivity in handling the Top People involved. 2000 Summary of World Broadcasts Pt. 5: Afr., Lat. Amer. & Caribbean (B.B.C.) (Nexis) 17 Nov. AL/D4000/L Parties are noted for nebulousness when it comes to the way..campaign funds are handled. †c. intransitive. With complement. To act in a specified way. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > act or do [verb (intransitive)] workeOE i-do971 doOE to shift one's handa1300 performa1382 practisec1475 skift?a1534 handle1535 act1583 enact1593 actuate1620 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cxviii[i]. 78 Let the proude be confounded, which handle so falsly agaynst me. 1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 616 They handle together with good faith. 8. transitive. To treat artistically; to portray or represent (in a particular manner or style).figurative in quot. 1531 (cf. paint v.¹ 4b). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > work of art > [verb (transitive)] > artistic treatment or style handle1531 treat1695 society > leisure > the arts > literature > art or occupation of writer or author > be the author of or write (a work) [verb (transitive)] > present by literary treatment beloukOE induce1484 handle1531 introduce1559 manage1697 write1781 plant1948 1531 G. Joye tr. Prophete Isaye Prol. sig. A.ij^v What so eur they do, it shalbe so kraftely handled, so coloured, so paynted y^t it maye apere well & rightuously. 1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Cv A deuyll made of copper, and that so workemanly handeled, that he semeth like flaming fire. 1603 M. Drayton Barrons Wars vi. xliii. 136 The story of his fortunes past, In liuely pictures neatly handled was. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. x. 412 It is very unusual to see the light and shade justly and naturally handled [in Chinese pictures]. 1850 J. Leitch tr. K. O. Müller Ancient Art (new ed.) §204. 193 The countenance is always handled in a less spirited manner. 1860 C. Kingsley Misc. (ed. 2) II. 77 Our painting is only good when it handles landscapes and animals. 1914 Amer. Art News 7 Feb. 5/1 Mr. Briton Rivière, as usual, handles his subject ably in his ‘Voices of the Night’. 2004 C. Stratton Buddhist Sculpt. Northern Thailand iii. 75/1 To the iconography we must add stylistic conventions: how the individual sculptor handled the body of the Buddha or his apparel. 9. transitive. To have in one's possession or pass through one's hands in the way of business; to trade or deal in; to buy and sell; (later also) knowingly to receive or deal in (stolen goods). Cf. handel v.Handling stolen goods is a statutory offence in England and Wales under the Theft Act (1968). ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > [verb (transitive)] monga1250 corsec1440 coss14.. merchant1511 chafferc1535 merchandise1538 mart1589 trade1589 broke1598 factor1611 handle1638 commercea1641 chop1645 chaffera1657 job1701 truck1715 to turn in1822 monger1928 society > trade and finance > [verb (transitive)] > cause to circulate by trade to turn over1585 turn1598 to turn and wind1598 wind1598 return1677 handle1889 the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > receiving or possessing stolen goods > receive or possess stolen goods [verb (intransitive)] reset1817 fence1840 handle1977 1638 L. Roberts Merchants Mappe of Commerce cxxvii. 30 He that never handled any commodity but Silkes or Iewels. 1666 Act discharging Vending Goods Ostend (Privy Council Scotl.) (single sheet) Untill first they acquaint the Sheriffs..in what places they shall handle their Wares and Commodities. 1736 tr. P. C. de C. de Marivaux Life Marianne I. 45 She handled her Shop-Goods with all the Judgment and Address imaginable. 1839 Merchants' Mag. Oct. 293 He is ready with knowledge to handle any peculiar article, and converse with..every intelligent consignor. 1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 13 Feb. 3/1 Large jobbing houses who handle all the new and standard publications in considerable numbers to supply small dealers. 1920 Automotive Industries 22 Apr. 966/2 A dozen or more instances could be cited of dealers who now are handling no trucks or who have a different truck from that formerly sold. 1977 Third Way 13 Jan. 13/1 Offences involving property (burglary, theft and handling stolen goods) were the principal crimes committed. 2011 Business Daily (Nairobi) (Nexis) 1 July Traders handling larger consignments who wish to benefit from duty-free access will be required to use the normal Comesa certificate of origin. Derivatives ˈhandlesome adj. rare capable of being (easily) handled. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > [adjective] > capable of being handled handleable1611 handlesome1674 1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 47 All feelers numb, nothing handlesom. 1900 Bull. Cleveland Gen. Hosp. Oct. 44 To make a dictionary useful it should be both handy and ‘handlesome’—a great bulky..affair is certain not to be used so frequently..as this splendid little volume. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022). handlev.² Brit. /ˈhandl/, U.S. /ˈhændəl/ Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: handle n.¹ Etymology: < handle n.¹ Compare earlier handled adj.¹ and slightly earlier handler n.² transitive. With complement. To provide with a handle or handles of a specified type, number, or (in heraldic use) tincture. Usually in passive. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > making tools, equipment, or fastenings > make tools, equipment, or fastenings [verb (transitive)] > furnish tool with handle haftc1430 helvec1440 stave1542 steal1543 handle1600 shaft1611 stouk1686 tree1864 1600 T. Masham in Princ. Navigations III. 695 Wee were informed, that their bowes were handled with golde. 1701 C. Wooley Two Years Jrnl. N.-Y. 75 With a flint, handled the Indian way. 1785 W. Cowper Let. 24 Dec. (1981) II. 433 It..is hinged, handled, and mounted with silver. 1855 H. T. De la Beche & T. Reeks Catal. Specimens Brit. Pottery Museum Pract. Geol. 116 Three handled tyg,..so handled that three different persons, drinking out of it, and each using a separate handle, bring their mouths to different parts of the rim. 1865 Heraldic Jrnl. June 87 A demi-lion vert,..holding in his dexter paw a battleaxe gold, handled gules. 1888 A. M. Bell Later Age of Stone 36 You may now ask how these implements were handled. 1920 21st Ann. Rep. Mich. Acad. Sci. 211 Their trench tools were handled with hickory and ash and maple. 2009 S. Pfeiffer Collecting Case Knives 70/2 The pocket knife line had dropped to an even 100 patterns, of which 70 were handled in bone. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.¹eOEn.²1823v.¹OEv.²1600
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handlen.1

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handlen.2

handlev.1

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handlev.2

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handlev.²