a part or member of the body of man, making the extremity of the arm. See ANATOMY, No. 53, &c.

The mechanism of the hand is very curious; excellently contrived to fit it for the various uses and occasions we have for it, and the great number of arts and manufactures it is to be employed in. It consists of a compages of nerves, and little bones joined into each other, which give it a great degree of strength, and at the same time an unusual flexibility, to enable it to handle adjacent bodies, lay hold of them, and grasp them, in order either to draw them towards us or thrust them off. Anaxagoras is represented by ancient authors, as maintaining, that man owes all his wisdom, knowledge, and superiority over other animals, to the use of his hands. Galen represents the matter otherwise; man, according to him, is not the wisest creature because he has hands; but he had hands given him because he was the wisest creature: for it was not our hands that taught us arts, but our reason. The hands are the organs of reason, &c.

In scripture, the word hand was variously applied. To pour water on any one's hand, signifies to serve him. To wash the hands was a ceremony made use of to denote innocence from murder or manslaughter. To kiss the hand was an act of adoration. To fill the hand signified taking possession of the priesthood, and performing its functions. To lean upon any one's hand was a mark of familiarity and superiority. To give the hand signifies to grant peace, swear friendship, promise security, or make alliance. The right hand was the place of honour and respect.—Amongst the Greeks and Romans it was customary for inferiors to walk on the left hand of superiors, that their right hand might be ready to afford protection and defence to their left side, which was, on account of the awkwardness of the left hand, more exposed to danger.

Imposition, or laying on of Hands, signifies the conferring of holy orders; a ceremony wherein the hands are laid on the head of another, as a sign of a mission, or of a power given him to exercise the functions of the ministry belonging to the order.

The apostles began to appoint missionaries by the imposition of hands. See IMPOSITION.

falconry, is used for the foot of the hawk. To have a clean, strong, slender, glutinous hand, well clawed, are some of the good qualities of a hawk or falcon.

the manege, sometimes stands for the fore-foot of a horse. It is also used for a division of the horse into two parts with respect to the rider's hand. The fore-hand includes the head, neck, and fore-quarters; the hind-hand is all the rest of the horse.

Hand is likewise used for a measure of four inches, Handel is also figuratively used in painting, sculpture, &c., for the manner or style of this or that master.