Dictionary

handshoe en · NOUN

Etymology

Compound of hand + shoe, likely as a calque of Dutch handschoen (“glove, mitten”) or German Handschuh (“glove”).

Meanings

1. (nonstandard) A glove or mitten.
   • There was a guy propelling himself with padded “handshoes” bound to his wrists with leather straps. 2005, Harvey Mackay, Fired Up!:
   • A glove with them is a "handshoe," showing they wore shoes before gloves. 1894, Great Thoughts from Master Minds, volume 3, page 47:
   • I doubt not, but if a man from his cradle had been always used to go bare-foot, whilst his hands were constantly wrapped up in warm mittins, and covered with handshoes, as the dutch call gloves; [...] 1801, John Locke, Works - Volume 9 - Page 9:
   • In this country the skins of deer, hogs, and sheep are often made into "handshoes," as FROM FOREIGN LANDS. 1891, H. Warren Clifford, Every-day occupations - Page 121:

Forms