Hand"ful (?), n.; pl. Hand flus (#). [AS. handfull.]

1.

As much as the hand will grasp or contain.

Addison.

2.

A hand's breadth; four inches.

[Obs.]

Knap the tongs together about a handful from the bottom. Bacon.

3.

A small quantity.

This handful of men were tied to very hard duty. Fuller.

To have one's handful, to have one's hands full; to have all one can do. [Obs.]

They had their handful to defend themselves from firing. Sir. W. Raleigh.

 

© Webster 1913.

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