handful
UK: ˈhændfʊl | US: ˈhændfʊl
n. a quantity that can be held in one hand
n. a small number or amount
n. (informal) a person or thing that is difficult to manage or control
The word "handful" combines "hand," derived from Old English hand (meaning the grasping limb), and the suffix "-ful," from Old English -full (meaning "full of" or "amount contained by"). Originally, it literally referred to what one hand could hold. Over time, it expanded metaphorically to describe small quantities or challenging individuals, reflecting the idea of "filling the hand" with something tangible or abstract.
She grabbed a handful of nuts from the bowl.
Only a handful of students attended the lecture.
The toddler was a real handful at the supermarket.
He threw a handful of confetti into the air.
A handful of volunteers helped clean the park.