handful

Meaning

1. The amount that a hand will grasp or contain.
2. (obsolete) A hand's breadth; four inches.
3. A small number, usually approximately five.
4. A group or number of things; a bunch.
5. (informal) Something which can only be managed with difficulty.
6. (slang) A five-year prison sentence.

Synonyms

fistful

palmful

bundle

hand

✋

bunch

palm of the hand

smattering

take in hand

grasp

grip

basinful

mouthful

clutch

scattering

small handful

tuft

wisp

earth

fist

✊

cup

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhæn(d)fʊl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: handful

Inherited from Old English: handfull

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Hondful

Cognate with Western Frisian: hânfol

Cognate with Dutch: handvol

Cognate with German: Handvoll

Cognate with Danish: håndfuld

Cognate with Swedish: handfull

Cognate with Icelandic: handfylli

In summary

From Middle English handful, hondful, from Old English handfull (“handful”), from Proto-Germanic *handufullō, *handufulliz (“handful”), from Proto-Germanic *handuz (“hand”) + *fullaz (“full”); equivalent to hand + full (“fullness, plenty”) or hand + -ful. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Hondful (“handful”), West Frisian hânfol (“handful”), Dutch handvol (“handful”), German Handvoll (“handful”), Danish håndfuld (“handful”), Swedish handfull (“handful”), Icelandic handfylli (“handful”).