# hand

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhænd/ · frequency rank #375

## Definitions
1. The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.
2. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand.
3. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand.
4. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.
5. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.
6. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.
7. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.
8. In linear measurement:
9. In linear measurement:
10. A side; part, camp; direction, either right or left.
11. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
12. An agent; a servant, or manual laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty.
13. A performer more or less skilful.
14. An instance of helping.
15. Handwriting; style of penmanship.
16. A person's autograph or signature.
17. Promise, word; especially of a betrothal.
18. Personal possession; ownership.
19. Management, domain, control.
20. A hand which is free to assist; especially due to having one's hands full or otherwise fully preoccupied.
21. Applause.
22. A Native American gambling game, involving guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or similar, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.
23. The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
24. A whole rhizome of ginger.
25. The feel of a fabric; the impression or quality of the fabric as judged qualitatively by the sense of touch.
26. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.
27. Agency in transmission from one person to another.
28. Rate; price.

## Etymology
From Middle English hond, hand, from Old English hand, from Proto-West Germanic *handu, from Proto-Germanic *handuz.
See also Dutch and Swedish hand (“hand”), Danish hånd, German Hand, West Frisian hân). Perhaps compare Old Swedish hinna (“to gain”), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰-𐌷𐌹𐌽𐌸𐌰𐌽 (fra-hinþan, “to take captive, capture”); and Latvian sīts (“hunting spear”), Ancient Greek κεντέω (kentéō, “prick”), Albanian çandër (“pitchfork, prop”).

## Easily confused with
- **HD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hd)
- **hn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hn)
- **has** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-has)
- **hat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hat)
- **hay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hay)
- **hon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hon)
- **hid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hid)
- **hen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hen)
- **hun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hun)
- **HUD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hud)
- **har** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-har)
- **haw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-haw)
- **hap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hap)
- **HDD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hdd)
- **hao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hao)
- **Haq** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-haq)
- **hav** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hav)
- **hin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hin)
- **hed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hed)
- **hod** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hand-vs-hod)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ahnd`, `hadn`, `handd`, `hannd`, `hhand`, `hnad`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hand