Hand"fast`, a. Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands. [Obs.]
Bale.
Hand"fast`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handfasted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Handfasting.] To pledge; to bind; to betroth by joining hands, in order
to permit cohabitation, before the celebration of marriage. [Obs.]
Hand"fast`, a. [G. handfest; hand hand + fest strong. See Fast.]
Strong; steadfast.[R.] Carlyle.
Hand"fast`ly, adv. In a handfast or publicly pledged manner. [Obs.]
Holinshed.
Hand"fish` (-fsh`), n. (Zoˆl.) The frogfish.
Hand"ful (-fl), n.; pl. Handfuls (-flz). [AS. handfull.] 1. As much as
the hand will grasp or contain. Addison.