handicap

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.

   Age is often a handicap.

2. 2
   noun

   An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race (or other contest of skill) to the competitor possessing disadvantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success.

   The older boy won, even though his opponent had been granted a handicap of five meters.

3. 3
   noun

   An old card game, similar to lanterloo.

   Here some of us fell to handicap, a sport that I never knew before, which was very good.

4. 4
   verb

   To place at disadvantage.

   The candidate was handicapped by her lack of experience.

5. 5
   verb

   To estimate betting odds.

   Grandpa Andy would buy the racing form the day ahead of time so he could handicap the race before he even arrived at the track.

6. 6
   noun

   advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning

7. 7
   noun

   something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress

8. 8
   noun

   the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness

Etymology

From hand-in-cap, in reference to holding the game stakes in a cap.