- 1
The amount that a hand will grasp or contain.
- I put two or three corns in my mouth, liked it, stole a handful, went into my chamber, chewed it, and for two months after never failed taking toll of every pennyworth of oatmeal that came into the house: […]
- 2
A hand's breadth; four inches.obsolete
- Knap the tongs together about a handful from the bottom.
- 3
A small number, usually approximately five.
- This handful of men were tied to very hard duty.
- The names of a number of the most famous North American railroads could be found in the north-east; Pennsylvania, New York Central, Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio, and the Norfolk & Western, to name but a handful.
- 4
A group or number of things; a bunch.
- But, aunt, she must have had some kind of education, her accent was so pure, her English so unfaulty. The other girl dropped her h's by handfuls, and made some very wild confusion in her native etymology.
- 5
Something which can only be managed with difficulty.informal
- Those twins are a real handful to look after.
- 6
A five-year prison sentence.slang
syn. handbreadth · handsbreadth