Hypertext Webster Gateway: "handful"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

2. A hand's breadth; four inches. [Obs.]

Knap the tongs together about a handful from the
bottom. --Bacon.

3. A small quantity.

This handful of men were tied to very hard duty.
--Fuller.

{To have one's handful}, to have one's hands full; to have
all one can do. [Obs.]

They had their handful to defend themselves from
firing. --Sir. W.
Raleigh.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

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