Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
handbreadth. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
handbreadth, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
handbreadth in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
handbreadth you have here. The definition of the word
handbreadth will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
handbreadth, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Alteration (due to breadth) of Middle English handbrede, hondbrede (“handbreadth”); equivalent to hand + breadth. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Houndebratte (“handbreadth”), West Frisian hânbreedte (“handbreadth”), Dutch handbreedte (“handbreadth”), German Handbreite (“handbreadth”) and Handbreit, Swedish handsbredd (“handbreadth”), Norwegian håndsbredd (“handbreadth”), Icelandic handbreidd (“handbreadth”).
Noun
handbreadth (plural handbreadths)
- A space equal to the breadth of the hand; a palm.
1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter 14, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Gutenberg edition, : [ Tipografia Giuntina, ], →OCLC; republished as Lady Chatterley’s Lover (eBook no. 0100181h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, August 2011, archived from the original on 11 November 2020:She followed him into the scullery, and combed her hair before the handbreadth of mirror by the back door.
Synonyms
Translations
A measurement - the width of a hand