Standard Lemma guide

handbreadth

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A space equal to the breadth of the hand; a palm.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

any unit of length based on the breadth of the human hand

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: handsbreadth

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: linear unit, linear measure

Narrower terms: hand

History

Etymology

Alteration (due to breadth) of Middle English handbrede, hondbrede (“handbreadth”); equivalent to hand + breadth. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Houndebratte (“handbreadth”), West Frisian hânbreedte (“handbreadth”), Dutch handbreedte (“handbreadth”), German Handbreite (“handbreadth”) and Handbreit, Swedish handsbredd (“handbreadth”), Norwegian håndsbredd (“handbreadth”), Icelandic handbreidd (“handbreadth”).

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hungarian: tenyérnyi — A measurement - the width of a hand
  • Māori: whānuitanga ringa — A measurement - the width of a hand
  • Middle English: hondbrede — A measurement - the width of a hand
  • Welsh: dyrnfedd — A measurement - the width of a hand