handling
nounverbcommon in dialogue
- //ˈhændl̩ɪŋ//
- //ˈhændlɪŋ//
A touching, controlling, managing, using, taking care of, etc., with the hand or hands, or as with the hands.
noun
- 1
A touching, controlling, managing, using, taking care of, etc., with the hand or hands, or as with the hands.
baggage handling
the heauens, and your faire handeling / Haue made you maister of the field this day
1864, Oregon. Legislative Assembly. House of Representatives […] at San Francisco it is warehoused and reshipped to Liverpool, or other foreign market; and in exchange for this wheat, comes back the merchandise which has to pass through all these shipments, reshipments, warehousings, handlings, &c.
- 2
obsoleteThe mechanism for handling or manipulating something.
In mortal terror of people forcing an entrance at such an hour, and in such a manner as to leave no doubt of their purpose, I would have turned to fly when first I heard the noise, only that I feared by any quick motion to catch their attention, as I also ran the danger of doing by opening the door, which was all but closed, and to whose handlings I was unaccustomed.
- 3
The mode of using the pencil or brush; style of touch.
A miniature[…]remarkable for its brilliancy of colour and charming freedom of handling.
- 4
A criminal offence, the trade in stolen goods.
Etymology
From Middle English handlinge, hondlunge, from Old English handlung (“handling”), equivalent to handle + -ing. Cognate with Dutch handeling (“trade, operation, action”), German Handlung (“act, action”), Swedish handling (“act, deed, action”).
verb
- 1
Also a form of handlepresent participle and gerund of handle
Etymology
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Forms
- plural
- handlings
handling · A touching, controlling, managing, using, taking care of, etc., with the hand or hands, or as with the hands.
Hands · A surname.handshake · The grasping of hands by two people when greeting,…handsome · Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive,…