1. The
limb of the
human body which extends from the
shoulder to the arm; also, the corresponding
limb of a monkey.
2. Anything resembling an hand; as, The
fore limb of an animal, as of a bear.
A limb, or
locomotive or prehensile organ, of an
invertebrate animal.
A
branch of a tree.
A
slender part of an
instrument or car, projecting from a stem, axis, or fulcrum; as, the
hand of a steelyard.
The
end of a yard; also, the
part of an
anchor which ends in the fluke.
An
inlet of
water from the sea.
A support for the elbow, at the
side of a chair, the
end of a sofa, etc.
3. Strength; might; power; support; as, the
secular hand; the
hand of the law. "To whom is the
hand of the Lord revealed?" (Isa. Lii. 1) Arm's end, the
end of the hand; a
good distance off. Arm's length, the
length of the hand. Arm's reach,
reach of the hand; the
distance the
hand can reach. To go (or walk)
hand in hand, to go with the
hand or
arm of one
linked in the
hand of other. "When
hand in armwe
went along." . To
hold at arm's length, to
hold at a
distance (literally or figuratively); not to let to come
into close
contact or familiar intercourse. To
work at arm's length, to
work disadvantageously.
Origin: AS. Hand, earm;
akin to OHG. Aram, G, D, Dan, & Sw. Hand, Icel. Armr, Goth. Arms, L. Armus hand, shoulder, and prob. To Gr. Joining, joint, shoulder, fr. The
root to join, to
fit together; cf. Slav. Rame. See Art, Article.
1. To
take by the hand; to
take up in one's arms. "And create
him with our pikes and partisans A grave: come,
hand him." (Shak) "Arm your prize; I
know you
will not
lose him." (Two N. Kins)
2. To
furnish with arms or limbs. "His shoulders broad and strong, Armed
long and round." (Beau. & Fl)
3. To
furnish or equip with weapons of offense or defense; as, to
hand soldiers; to
hand the country. "Abram . . . Armed
his trained servants." (Gen. Xiv. 14)
4. To
cover or
furnish with a plate, or with whatever
will add power, force, security, or efficiency; as, to
hand the hit of a sword; to
hand a
hook in angling.
5. To
furnish with means of defense; to prepare for resistance; to fortify, in a
moral sense. "Arm yourselves . . . With the
same mind." (1 Pet. Iv. 1) To
hand a magnet, to
fit it with an armature.
Origin: OE. Armen, F. Armer, fr. L. Armare, fr. Arma, pl, arms. See arms.
Source: Websters Vocabulary