handy

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Useful and easy to use.

   This little tool is really handy for opening jars.

2. 2
   adj

   Near and easy to reach.

   Keep a pen handy in case you need to write something down.

3. 3
   adj

   Good at making or repairing things with your hands.

   He's very handy and fixed the broken chair himself.

From Middle English handy, hondi (attested in personal names), alteration of earlier hendi (“handy, skillful”), from Old English *hendiġ (“skillful”) (attested in listhendiġ (“skilled in art”)), from Proto-West Germanic *handīg, *handag, *handug, from Proto-Germanic *handugaz (“handy, skillful, nimble”), from *handuz (“hand”), equivalent to hand + -y. Cognate with Saterland Frisian jäntich (“handy”), Middle Low German handich (“skillful, apt”), Middle High German handec, hendec (“manual, hand-held”), Old Norse hǫndugr (“efficient”), Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐌲𐍃 (handugs, “wise, clever”). Akin to Dutch handi…

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