Handshake
/ˈhændˌʃeɪk/noun
A greeting or agreement made by clasping someone’s hand and moving it up and down.
Did you know?The handshake is ancient as a gesture of peace and agreement, and in many cultures it functioned like a wordless contract: your open hand proved you weren’t hiding a weapon.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hand
“the hand, especially as an instrument of action”
Old English
OE
sceacan
“to shake, move, or brandish”
14th Century
English
hand-shake
“a shaking of hands; a clasping of hands as a greeting or pledge”
Modern English
English
handshake
“a grasping and shaking of hands, especially as a greeting or agreement”