English Explanatory Dictionary

handicap

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.
  2. 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.
  3. The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people.
  4. A race or similar contest in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.
  5. An old card game, similar to lanterloo.
  6. Synonym of hand-in-cap (“old English trading game”).
verb
  1. To encumber with a handicap in any contest.
  2. To place at disadvantage.
  3. To estimate betting odds.

Pronunciation

/ˈhændikæp/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-handicap.wav

Word forms

handicap handicaps handicapping handicapped

Etymology

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

Synonyms

hand-in-cap

Derived words

Benghazi Handicap handicamp handicapism handicapitalism handicappable handicapper handicap principle handiphobia nonhandicap overhandicap polyhandicap prehandicap re-handicap rehandicap self-handicap

Translations

Finnish: tasoituskilpailu Spanish: hándicap
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
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