# handshake

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhæn(d)ˌʃeɪk/ · frequency rank #18,093

## Definitions
1. The grasping of hands by two people when greeting, leave-taking, or making an agreement.
2. An exchange of signals between two devices when communications begin in order to ensure synchronization.

## Etymology
From hand + shake. See the appendix for the history of the gesture itself.

## Common misspellings (14)
`ahndshake`, `hadnshake`, `handdshake`, `handhsake`, `handsahke`, `handshaek`, `handshakke`, `handshhake`, `handshkae`, `handsshake`, `hanndshake`, `hansdhake`, `hhandshake`, `hnadshake`

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