v. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of hand.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. a person's power or discretionary action.
n. The force of workers available.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. the force of workers available
n. (with `in') guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
Word Usage
"Little children and inquisitive young ladies are knocked down or blackened in coiling the hawser, by “hands” who, being nothing but _hands_, evidently cannot say, “I beg your pardon, miss.”"