different between handgrip vs handful

English

Alternative forms

• hand-grip, hand grip

Etymology

From Middle English hand grip, handegrip, from Old English handgripe (“handgrip”), from Proto-Germanic *handugripiz (“handgrip”), equivalent to hand +? grip. Cognate with Dutch handgreep (“handgrip, grasp”), German Handgriff (“handgrip, grasp, handle, hilt”), Danish håndgreb (“handgrip”), Swedish håndgrepp (“handgrip, handle, hilt”).

Noun

handgrip (plural handgrips)

1. A handle.
2. A covering (often rubber or foam) on a handle, designed to allow the user a more comfortable or more secure hold on the handle.
3. A handshake; a way of gripping hands with another person.
4. The ability of a person (or other animal with hands) to grip something with a hand.

Translations

Usage notes

The two word term hand grip is also used instead, particularly when referring to the ability of a person to grip an object with his or her hand.

Related terms

• hand-gripe

English

Alternative forms

• handfull (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English handful, hondful, from Old English handful (“handful”), from Proto-Germanic *handufull?, *handufulliz (“handful”), from Proto-Germanic *handuz (“hand”) + *fullaz (“full”); equivalent to hand +? full (“fullness, plenty”) or hand +? -ful. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Hondful (“handful”), West Frisian hânfol (“handful”), Dutch handvol (“handful”), German Handvoll (“handful”), Danish håndfuld (“handful”), Swedish handfull (“handful”), Icelandic handfylli (“handful”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?hæn(d)f?l/, /?hæn(d)f?l/

Noun

handful (plural handfuls or handsful)

1. The amount that a hand will grasp or contain.

   I put two or three corns in my mouth, liked it, stole a handful, went into my chamber, chewed it, and for two months after never failed taking toll of every pennyworth of oatmeal that came into the house. - Joseph Addison, The Spectator, Vol. VI

2. (obsolete) A hand's breadth; four inches.
3. A small number, usually approximately five.

   • This handful of men were tied to very hard duty.
4. A group or number of things; a bunch.
5. (colloquial) Something which can only be managed with difficulty.
   • 2008, Dog Fancy (volume 39, issue 11, page 76)

     Many times dogs are surrendered for reasons such as changes in the family unit, a death in the family, no time to care for a dog, or because that cute little puppy is now a 100 lb untrained handful.

6. (slang) A five-year prison sentence.

Synonyms

• (content of a hand): fistful
• handbreadth, handsbreadth

Derived terms

• have one's handful

Related terms

• handgrip
• handhold

Translations