# handwhile

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A little while; a moment, an instant.

## Etymology
From Middle English handwhile, from Old English handhwīl (“an instant”), equivalent to hand + while. Cognate with Middle High German hantwile (“handwhile”).

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