handbook

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a concise reference book containing practical instructions, advice, or essential information about a subject or organization

   The laboratory handbook explains the safety rules and standard procedures for every experiment.

From Middle English handbok and Old English handbōc, a compound of hand + book that already meant a portable manual. After the native term had largely fallen out of use, it was revived in the nineteenth century, probably reinforced by German Handbuch. The image is of a book kept at hand for ready reference.

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