different between handless vs landless

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?hændl?s/

Etymology 1

From Middle English handles, from Old English *handl?as, from Proto-Germanic *handulausaz (“handless”), equivalent to hand +? -less. Cognate with West Frisian hânleas (“handless”), German handlos (“handless”), Icelandic handlauss (“handless”).

Adjective

handless (comparative more handless, superlative most handless)

1. Without a hand.
   • c. 1602, William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, act 5, scene 5:

     Together with his mangled Myrmidons, That noseless, handless, hack'd and chipp'd, come to him

2. (obsolete) Not handy; awkward.
   • 1891, Dugald Ferguson, Vicissitudes of Bush Life in Australia and New Zealand (page 55)

     This, however, was a thing that, left to himself, would have simply rendered Bill Lampiere a most handless workman at everything he attempted.

Translations

Etymology 2

From handleless, by haplology, under the influence of etymology 1 above.

Adjective

handless (not comparable)

1. Without a handle.
   • 1836, The Metropolitan, Volume 15, page 148:

     One battered, spoutless, handless, japanned-in jug, that did not contain water, for it leaked.

   • 2003, Manners... More than Etiquette, page 91:

     Chinese soup is sipped in a handless cup (Chinese soup bowl) with its own soupspoon.

Translations

Anagrams

• handsels

English

Etymology

From Middle English londlees, from Old English landl?as, equivalent to land +? -less. Cognate with Dutch landeloos (“landless”), German landlos (“landless”), Icelandic landlaus (“landless”).

Adjective

landless (not comparable)

1. Not owning land.

   The landless younger sons of the gentry often entered the military as the only way to make a living.

   The landless flock to the cities seeking jobs.

2. Not containing any land.

   We set sail toward the landless horizon.

Antonyms

• landed

Derived terms

• landlessness

Translations