Hammer (-mẽr) noun [ Middle English hamer , Anglo-Saxon hamer , hamor ; akin to Dutch hamer , G. & Danish hammer , Swedish hammare , Icelandic hamarr , hammer, crag, and perhaps to Greek 'a`kmwn anvil, Sanskrit açman stone.]
1. An instrument for driving nails, beating metals, and the like, consisting of a head, usually of steel or iron, fixed crosswise to a handle.

With busy hammers closing rivets up.

Shak.

2. Something which in form or action resembles the common hammer ; as: (a) That part of a clock which strikes upon the bell to indicate the hour. (b) The padded mallet of a piano, which strikes the wires, to produce the tones. (c) (Anat.) The malleus. See under Ear . (d) (Gun.) That part of a gunlock which strikes the percussion cap, or firing pin; the cock; formerly, however, a piece of steel covering the pan of a flintlock musket and struck by the flint of the cock to ignite the priming. (e) Also, a person or thing that smites or shatters; as, St. Augustine was the hammer of heresies.

He met the stern legionaries [ of Rome] who had been the "massive iron hammers " of the whole earth.

J. H. Newman.

Atmospheric hammer , a dead-stroke hammer in which the spring is formed by confined air. -- Drop hammer , Face hammer , etc. See under Drop , Face , etc. -- Hammer fish . See Hammerhead . -- Hammer hardening , the process of hardening metal by hammering it when cold. -- Hammer shell (Zoology) , any species of Malleus , a genus of marine bivalve shells, allied to the pearl oysters, having the wings narrow and elongated, so as to give them a hammer-shaped outline; -- called also hammer oyster . -- To bring to the hammer , to put up at auction.

Hammer transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Hammered (-mẽrd); present participle & verbal noun Hammering .]
1. To beat with a hammer; to beat with heavy blows; as, to hammer iron.

2. To form or forge with a hammer; to shape by beating. " Hammered money." Dryden.

3. To form in the mind; to shape by hard intellectual labor; -- usually with out .

Who was hammering out a penny dialogue.

Jeffry.

Hammer intransitive verb
1. To be busy forming anything; to labor hard as if shaping something with a hammer.

Whereon this month I have been hammering .

Shak.

2. To strike repeated blows, literally or figuratively.

Blood and revenge are hammering in my head.

Shak.

Hammer noun (Athletics) A spherical weight attached to a flexible handle and hurled from a mark or ring. The weight of head and handle is usually not less than 16 pounds.

Hammer break (Electricity) An interrupter in which contact is broken by the movement of an automatically vibrating hammer between a contact piece and an electromagnet, or of a rapidly moving piece mechanically driven.

Hammer lock (Wrestling) A hold in which an arm of one contestant is held twisted and bent behind his back by his opponent.

Hammer-beam (-bēm`) noun (Gothic Arch.) A member of one description of roof truss, called hammer-beam truss , which is so framed as not to have a tiebeam at the top of the wall. Each principal has two hammer-beams, which occupy the situation, and to some extent serve the purpose, of a tiebeam.

Hammer-dressed (-drĕst`) adjective Having the surface roughly shaped or faced with the stonecutter's hammer; -- said of building stone.

Hammer-harden (-härd`'n) transitive verb To harden, as a metal, by hammering it in the cold state.

Hammer-less adjective (Firearms) Without a visible hammer; -- said of a gun having a cock or striker concealed from sight, and out of the way of an accidental touch.

Hammerable (-ȧ*b'l) adjective Capable of being formed or shaped by a hammer. Sherwood.

Hammercloth (-klŏth; 115) noun [ Prob. from Dutch hemel heaven, canopy, tester (akin to German himmel , and perhaps also to English heaven ) + English cloth ; or perhaps a corruption of hamper cloth .] The cloth which covers a coach box.

Hammerer (-ẽr) noun One who works with a hammer.

Hammerhead (-hĕd`) noun
1. (Zoology) A shark of the genus Sphyrna or Zygæna , having the eyes set on projections from the sides of the head, which gives it a hammer shape. The Sphyrna zygæna is found in the North Atlantic. Called also hammer fish , and balance fish .

2. (Zoology) A fresh-water fish; the stone-roller.

3. (Zoology) An African fruit bat ( Hypsignathus monstrosus ); -- so called from its large blunt nozzle.

Hammerkop (hăm"mẽr*kŏp) noun (Zoology) A bird of the Heron family; the umber.

Hammerman (-m a n) noun ; plural Hammermen (-m e n). A hammerer; a forgeman.

Hammochrysos (hăm`mo*krī"sŏs) noun [ Latin , from Greek "ammo`chrysos ; "a`mmos , 'a`mmos , sand + chryso`s gold.] A stone with spangles of gold color in it.

Hammock (hăm"mŏk) noun [ A word of Indian origin: confer Spanish hamaca . Columbus, in the Narrative of his first voyage, says: "A great many Indians in canoes came to the ship to-day for the purpose of bartering their cotton, and hamacas , or nets, in which they sleep."]
1. A swinging couch or bed, usually made of netting or canvas about six feet long and three feet wide, suspended by clews or cords at the ends.

2. A piece of land thickly wooded, and usually covered with bushes and vines. Used also adjectively; as, hammock land. [ Southern U. S.] Bartlett.

Hammock nettings (Nautical) , formerly, nets for stowing hammocks; now, more often, wooden boxes or a trough on the rail, used for that purpose.

Hamose (ha*mōs"), Ha"mous (hā"mŭs), }[ Latin hamus hook.] (Botany) Having the end hooked or curved.

Hamper (hăm"pẽr) noun [ Contr. from hanaper .] A large basket, usually with a cover, used for the packing and carrying of articles; as, a hamper of wine; a clothes hamper ; an oyster hamper , which contains two bushels.

Hamper transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Hampered (-pẽrd); present participle & verbal noun Hampering .] To put in a hamper.

Hamper transitive verb [ Middle English hamperen , hampren , probably of the same origin as English hamble .] To put a hamper or fetter on; to shackle; to insnare; to inveigle; to entangle; hence, to impede in motion or progress; to embarrass; to encumber. " Hampered nerves." Blackmore.

A lion hampered in a net.

L'Estrange.

They hamper and entangle our souls.

Tillotson.

Hamper noun [ See Hamper to shackle.]
1. A shackle; a fetter; anything which impedes. W. Browne.

2. (Nautical) Articles ordinarily indispensable, but in the way at certain times. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Top hamper (Nautical) , unnecessary spars and rigging kept aloft.

Hamshackle (hăm"shăk`'l) transitive verb [ Ham + shackle .] To fasten (an animal) by a rope binding the head to one of the fore legs; as, to hamshackle a horse or cow; hence, to bind or restrain; to curb.

Hamster (-stẽr) noun [ German hamster .] (Zoology) A small European rodent ( Cricetus frumentarius ). It is remarkable for having a pouch on each side of the jaw, under the skin, and for its migrations.

Hamstring (hăm"strĭng`) noun (Anat.) One of the great tendons situated in each side of the ham, or space back of the knee, and connected with the muscles of the back of the thigh.

Hamstring transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Hamstrung ; present participle & verbal noun Hamstringing . See String .] To lame or disable by cutting the tendons of the ham or knee; to hough; hence, to cripple; to incapacitate; to disable.

So have they hamstrung the valor of the subject by seeking to effeminate us all at home.

Milton.

Hamular (hăm"u*lẽr) adjective Hooked; hooklike; hamate; as, the hamular process of the sphenoid bone.

Hamulate (-lat) adjective Furnished with a small hook; hook-shaped. Gray.

Hamule (-ūl) noun [ Latin hamulus .] A little hook.

Hamulose (-u*lōs`) adjective [ Latin hamulus , dim. of hamus a hook.] Bearing a small hook at the end. Gray.

Hamulus (-lŭs) noun ; plural Hamuli (-lī). [ Latin , a little hook.]
1. (Anat.) A hook, or hooklike process.

2. (Zoology) A hooked barbicel of a feather.

Han (hăn), contr. inf. & plural present of Haven . To have; have. [ Obsolete] Piers Plowman.

Him thanken all, and thus they han an end.

Chaucer.

Hanap (-ăp) noun [ French hanap . See Hanaper .] A rich goblet, esp. one used on state occasions. [ Obsolete]

Hanaper (-ȧ*pẽr) noun [ Late Latin hanaperium a large vase, from hanapus vase, bowl, cup (whence French hanap ); of German origin; confer Old High German hnapf , German napf , akin to Anglo-Saxon hnæp cup, bowl. Confer Hamper , Nappy , noun ] A kind of basket, usually of wickerwork, and adapted for the packing and carrying of articles; a hamper.

Hanaper office , an office of the English court of chancery in which writs relating to the business of the public, and the returns to them, were anciently kept in a hanaper or hamper. Blackstone.

Hance (hȧns) transitive verb [ See Enhance .] To raise; to elevate. [ Obsolete] Lydgate.

Hance (hăns), Hanch (hănch) noun [ See Hanse .]
1. (Architecture) See Hanse .

2. (Nautical) A sudden fall or break, as the fall of the fife rail down to the gangway.

Hand (hănd) noun [ Anglo-Saxon hand , hond ; akin to D., G., & Swedish hand , Old High German hant , Danish haand , Icelandic hönd , Goth. handus , and perhaps to Goth. hinþan to seize (in comp.). Confer Hunt .]
1. That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See Manus .

2. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand ; as: (a) A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey. (b) An index or pointer on a dial; as, the hour or minute hand of a clock.

3. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.

4. Side; part; direction, either right or left.

On this hand and that hand , were hangings.

Ex. xxxviii. 15.

The Protestants were then on the winning hand .

Milton.

5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.

He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator.

Addison.

6. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.

To change the hand in carrying on the war.

Clarendon.

Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand .

Judges vi. 36.

7. An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful; as, a deck hand ; a farm hand ; an old hand at speaking.

A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many hands , as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for.

Locke.

I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile.

Hazlitt.

8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad, or running hand . Hence, a signature.

I say she never did invent this letter;
This is a man's invention and his hand .

Shak.

Some writs require a judge's hand .

Burril.

9. Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; -- usually in the plural. "Receiving in hand one year's tribute." Knolles.

Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the government of Britain.

Milton.

10. Agency in transmission from one person to another; as, to buy at first hand , that is, from the producer, or when new; at second hand , that is, when no longer in the producer's hand, or when not new.

11. Rate; price. [ Obsolete] "Business is bought at a dear hand , where there is small dispatch." Bacon.

12. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once ; as: (a) (Card Playing) The quota of cards received from the dealer. (b) (Tobacco Manuf.) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together.

13. (Firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.

» Hand is used figuratively for a large variety of acts or things, in the doing, or making, or use of which the hand is in some way employed or concerned; also, as a symbol to denote various qualities or conditions, as: (a) Activity; operation; work; -- in distinction from the head , which implies thought, and the heart , which implies affection. "His hand will be against every man." Gen. xvi. 12. (b) Power; might; supremacy; -- often in the Scriptures. "With a mighty hand . . . will I rule over you." Ezek. xx. 33. (c) Fraternal feeling; as, to give, or take, the hand ; to give the right hand . (d) Contract; -- commonly of marriage; as, to ask the hand ; to pledge the hand .

» Hand is often used adjectively or in compounds (with or without the hyphen), signifying performed by the hand ; as, hand blow or hand -blow, hand gripe or hand -gripe: used by , or designed for , the hand ; as, hand ball or hand ball, hand bow, hand fetter, hand grenade or hand -grenade, hand gun or hand gun, hand loom or hand loom, hand mill or hand organ or hand organ, hand saw or hand saw, hand -weapon: measured or regulated by the hand ; as, hand breadth or hand's breadth, hand gallop or hand -gallop. Most of the words in the following paragraph are written either as two words or in combination.

Hand bag , a satchel; a small bag for carrying books, papers, parcels, etc. -- Hand basket , a small or portable basket. -- Hand bell , a small bell rung by the hand; a table bell. Bacon. -- Hand bill , a small pruning hook. See 4th Bill . -- Hand car . See under Car . -- Hand director (Mus.) , an instrument to aid in forming a good position of the hands and arms when playing on the piano; a hand guide. -- Hand drop . See Wrist drop . -- Hand gallop . See under Gallop . -- Hand gear (Machinery) , apparatus by means of which a machine, or parts of a machine, usually operated by other power, may be operated by hand. -- Hand glass . (a) A glass or small glazed frame, for the protection of plants. (b) A small mirror with a handle. -- Hand guide . Same as Hand director (above). -- Hand language , the art of conversing by the hands, esp. as practiced by the deaf and dumb; dactylology. -- Hand lathe . See under Lathe . -- Hand money , money paid in hand to bind a contract; earnest money. -- Hand organ (Mus.) , a barrel organ, operated by a crank turned by hand. -- Hand plant . (Botany) Same as Hand tree (below). -- Hand rail , a rail, as in staircases, to hold by. Gwilt. -- Hand sail , a sail managed by the hand. Sir W. Temple. -- Hand screen , a small screen to be held in the hand. -- Hand screw , a small jack for raising heavy timbers or weights ; (Carp.) a screw clamp. -- Hand staff (pl. Hand staves ), a javelin. Ezek. xxxix. 9. -- Hand stamp , a small stamp for dating, addressing, or canceling papers, envelopes, etc. -- Hand tree (Botany) , a lofty tree found in Mexico ( Cheirostemon platanoides ), having red flowers whose stamens unite in the form of a hand. -- Hand vise , a small vise held in the hand in doing small work. Moxon. -- Hand work , or Handwork , work done with the hands, as distinguished from work done by a machine; handiwork. -- All hands , everybody; all parties. -- At all hands , On all hands , on all sides; from every direction; generally. -- At any hand , At no hand , in any (or no) way or direction; on any account; on no account. "And therefore at no hand consisting with the safety and interests of humility." Jer. Taylor. -- At first hand , At second hand . See def. 10 (above). -- At hand . (a) Near in time or place; either present and within reach, or not far distant. "Your husband is at hand ; I hear his trumpet." Shak. (b) Under the hand or bridle. [ Obsolete] "Horses hot at hand ." Shak. -- At the hand of , by the act of; as a gift from. "Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?" Job ii. 10. -- Bridle hand . See under Bridle . -- By hand , with the hands, in distinction from instrumentality of tools, engines, or animals; as, to weed a garden by hand ; to lift, draw, or carry by hand . -- Clean hands , freedom from guilt, esp. from the guilt of dishonesty in money matters, or of bribe taking. "He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." Job xvii. 9. -- From hand to hand , from one person to another. -- Hand in hand . (a) In union; conjointly; unitedly. Swift. (b) Just; fair; equitable.

As fair and as good, a kind of hand in hand comparison.

Shak.

-- Hand over hand , Hand over fist , by passing the hands alternately one before or above another; as, to climb hand over hand ; also, rapidly; as, to come up with a chase hand over hand . -- Hand over head , negligently; rashly; without seeing what one does. [ Obsolete] Bacon. -- Hand running , consecutively; as, he won ten times hand running . -- Hands off! keep off! forbear! no interference or meddling! -- Hand to hand , in close union; in close fight; as, a hand to hand contest. Dryden. -- Heavy hand , severity or oppression. -- In hand . (a) Paid down. "A considerable reward in hand , and . . . a far greater reward hereafter." Tillotson. (b) In preparation; taking place. Chaucer. "Revels . . . in hand ." Shak. (c) Under consideration, or in the course of transaction; as, he has the business in hand . -- In one's hand or hands . (a) In one's possession or keeping. (b) At one's risk, or peril; as, I took my life in my hand . -- Laying on of hands , a form used in consecrating to office, in the rite of confirmation, and in blessing persons. -- Light hand , gentleness; moderation. -- Note of hand , a promissory note. -- Off hand , Out of hand , forthwith; without delay, hesitation, or difficulty; promptly. "She causeth them to be hanged up out of hand ." Spenser. -- Off one's hands , out of one's possession or care. -- On hand , in present possession; as, he has a supply of goods on hand . -- On one's hands , in one's possession care, or management. -- Putting the hand under the thigh , an ancient Jewish ceremony used in swearing. -- Right hand , the place of honor, power, and strength. -- Slack hand , idleness; carelessness; inefficiency; sloth. -- Strict hand , severe discipline; rigorous government. -- To bear a hand (Nautical) , to give help quickly; to hasten. -- To bear in hand , to keep in expectation with false pretenses. [ Obsolete] Shak. -- To be hand and glove , or in glove , with . See under Glove . -- To be on the mending hand , to be convalescent or improving. -- To bring up by hand , to feed (an infant) without suckling it. -- To change hand . See Change . -- To change hands , to change sides, or change owners. Hudibras. -- To clap the hands , to express joy or applause, as by striking the palms of the hands together. -- To come to hand , to be received; to be taken into possession; as, the letter came to hand yesterday. -- To get hand , to gain influence. [ Obsolete]

Appetites have . . . got such a hand over them.

Baxter.

-- To get one's hand in , to make a beginning in a certain work; to become accustomed to a particular business. -- To have a hand in , to be concerned in; to have a part or concern in doing; to have an agency or be employed in. -- To have in hand . (a) To have in one's power or control. Chaucer. (b) To be engaged upon or occupied with. -- To have one's hands full , to have in hand all that one can do, or more than can be done conveniently; to be pressed with labor or engagements; to be surrounded with difficulties. -- To have, or get , the (higher) upper hand , to have, or get, the better of another person or thing. -- To his hand , To my hand , etc., in readiness; already prepared. "The work is made to his hands ." Locke. -- To hold hand , to compete successfully or on even conditions. [ Obsolete] Shak. -- To lay hands on , to seize; to assault. -- To lend a hand , to give assistance. -- To lift, or put forth , the hand against , to attack; to oppose; to kill. -- To live from hand to mouth , to obtain food and other necessaries as want compels, without previous provision. - - To make one's hand , to gain advantage or profit. -- To put the hand unto , to steal. Ex. xxii. 8. -- To put the last, or finishing , hand to , to make the last corrections in; to complete; to perfect. -- To set the hand to , to engage in; to undertake.

That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to .

Deut. xxiii. 20.

-- To stand one in hand , to concern or affect one. -- To strike hands , to make a contract, or to become surety for another's debt or good behavior. -- To take in hand . (a) To attempt or undertake . (b) To seize and deal with; as, he took him in hand . -- To wash the hands of , to disclaim or renounce interest in, or responsibility for, a person or action; as, to wash one's hands of a business. Matt. xxvii. 24. -- Under the hand of , authenticated by the handwriting or signature of; as, the deed is executed under the hand and seal of the owner.

Hand (hănd) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Handed ; present participle & verbal noun Handing .]
1. To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as, he handed them the letter.

2. To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct; as, to hand a lady into a carriage.

3. To manage; as, I hand my oar. [ Obsolete] Prior.

4. To seize; to lay hands on. [ Obsolete] Shak.

5. To pledge by the hand; to handfast. [ R.]

6. (Nautical) To furl; -- said of a sail. Totten.

To hand down , to transmit in succession, as from father to son, or from predecessor to successor; as, fables are handed down from age to age; to forward to the proper officer (the decision of a higher court); as, the Clerk of the Court of Appeals handed down its decision. -- To hand over , to yield control of; to surrender; to deliver up.

Hand intransitive verb To coöperate. [ Obsolete] Massinger.

Hand noun A gambling game played by American Indians, consisting of guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or the like, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.

Handball noun
1. A ball for throwing or using with the hand.

2. A game played with such a ball, as by players striking it to and fro between them with the hands, or alternately against a wall, until one side or the other fails to return the ball.

Handbarrow (-băr`ro) noun A frame or barrow, without a wheel, carried by hand.

Handbill (-bĭl`) noun
1. A loose, printed sheet, to be distributed by hand.

2. A pruning hook. [ Usually written hand bill .]

Handbook (-bok`) noun [ Hand + book ; confer Anglo-Saxon handbōc , or German handbuch .] A book of reference, to be carried in the hand; a manual; a guidebook.

Handbreadth (-brĕdth`) noun A space equal to the breadth of the hand; a palm. Ex. xxxvii. 12.

Handcart noun A cart drawn or pushed by hand.

Handcloth (-klŏth`; 115) noun A handkerchief.

Handcraft (-krȧft`) noun Same as Handicraft .

Handcraftsman (-m a n) noun ; plural -men (-m e n). A handicraftsman.

Handcuff (-kŭf`) noun [ Anglo-Saxon handcops ; hand hand + cosp , cops , fetter. The second part was confused with English cuffs ,] A fastening, consisting of an iron ring around the wrist, usually connected by a chain with one on the other wrist; a manacle; -- usually in the plural.

Handcuff (hănd"kŭf`) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Handcuffed (- kŭft`); present participle & verbal noun Handcuffing .] To apply handcuffs to; to manacle. Hay (1754).

Handed adjective
1. With hands joined; hand in hand.

Into their inmost bower,
Handed they went.

Milton.

2. Having a peculiar or characteristic hand.

As poisonous tongued as handed .

Shak.

» Handed is used in composition in the sense of having (such or so many) hands ; as, bloody- handed ; free- handed ; heavy- handed ; left- handed ; single- handed .