handful
/ˈhæn(d)fʊl/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: handfuls · handsful
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The amount that a hand will grasp or contain.
Noun
Examples
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: […]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A small number, usually approximately five.
Noun
Examples
This handful of men were tied to very hard duty.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “handful” mean?
The amount that a hand will grasp or contain.
Is “handful” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.