handling

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the management of someone or something

   the handling of prisoners

2. 2
   noun

   A touching, controlling, managing, using, taking care of, etc., with the hand or hands, or as with the hands.

   baggage handling

3. 3
   noun

   The mechanism for handling or manipulating something.

   In mortal terror of people forcing an entrance at such an hour, and in such a manner as to leave no doubt of their purpose, I would have turned to fly when first I heard the noise, only that I feared by any quick motion to catch their attention, as I also ran the danger of doing by opening the door, which was all but closed, and to whose handlings I was unaccustomed.

4. 4
   noun

   The mode of using the pencil or brush; style of touch.

   A miniature[…]remarkable for its brilliancy of colour and charming freedom of handling.

5. 5
   noun

   the action of touching with the hands (or the skillful use of the hands) or by the use of mechanical means

6. 6
   noun

   manual (or mechanical) carrying or moving or delivering or working with something

7. 7
   noun

   A criminal offence, the trade in stolen goods.

8. 8
   verb

   present participle and gerund of handle

Etymology

From Middle English handlinge, hondlunge, from Old English handlung (“handling”), equivalent to handle + -ing. Cognate with Dutch handeling (“trade, operation, action”), German Handlung (“act, action”), Swedish handling (“act, deed, action”).