# sleight of hand

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. The required manual dexterity used to perform magic tricks and illusions.
2. A performance of such a skill.
3. Any form of clever or skillful trickery or deception.

## Etymology
From Middle English slegthe of hande, sleght of hond, equivalent to sleight + of + hand. Compare Old French léger de main (cf. the contemporary French léger de main and the contemporary English legerdemain).

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