Hand
/hænd/noun
The prehensile, multi-fingered part of the arm used for grasping and manipulating objects.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, hands were seen as vessels of power, often used in rituals to channel energy and invoke spirits.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱeh₂n-
“to grasp; to take hold of”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*handō
“the hand, as a tool for manipulation and action”
Old English
OE
hand
“the hand, a part of the body used for grasping”
Middle English
ME
hande
“the hand, often used in metaphorical expressions of power or control”
Modern English
English
hand
“the anatomical structure used for grasping, now also encompassing various symbolic meanings”