handful
UK[ˈhændfʊl]US[ˈhændfʊl]
n
the amount of something that can be held in one hand
n
a small number or amount
n
a person or thing that is difficult to manage or control
Morpheme Breakdown
hand
ful
hand
body part
ful
full of
Etymology
the word 'handful' is a transparent compound formed within old english from the noun 'hand' and the suffix '-ful', which denoted a container's capacity. this construction follows a common germanic pattern for creating measure words, such as 'cupful' or 'spoonful'. the literal sense of 'as much as the hand can hold' naturally extended to describe any small, indefinite quantity. a further figurative extension applied the concept of being 'filled' or 'overfilled' to describe a person or situation that is challenging to manage, completing the word's semantic journey from a concrete measurement to an abstract characterization.
Analysis
Structure: hand (body part) + ful (full of)
'hand' originates from old english 'hand', of germanic origin. it functions as the base noun denoting the body part. 'ful' originates from old english '-ful', an adjectival suffix meaning 'full of', derived from the adjective 'full'. in this compound, it forms a noun meaning 'the quantity that fills a hand'.
Examples
she added a handful of fresh herbs to the soup.
only a handful of people attended the meeting.
the toddler is a real handful when he's tired.