English word handful comes from Proto-Germanic *handuz (Hand.), Proto-Germanic *fullaz ((strong only) the whole, the entire. Full (not empty).)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *handuz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Hand. |
| *fullaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | (strong only) the whole, the entire. Full (not empty). |
| *handfulljô | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| handful | Old English (ang) | |
| handful | English (eng) | (obsolete) A hand's breadth; four inches.. A group or number of things; a bunch.. A small number, usually approximately five.. Something which can only be managed with difficulty.. The amount that a hand will grasp or contain. |