Dictionary

handtame en · ADJ

Etymology

From Middle English handtame, from Old English handtam (“tame enough to be handled”), from Proto-West Germanic *handutam, equivalent to hand + tame. Cognate with Dutch handtam (“handtame”), German Low German handtamm (“handtame”), German handzahm (“handtame”).

Meanings

1. Tame and accustomed to being held in the hand; (by extension) mild; meek; humble; docile
   • I badly wanted a little more time to work on training them, but simply couldn't find it — so while they grew up friendly and confident, you couldn't exactly called them handtame. 2003, From The Heart of a Bird - Page 50
   • This is a really popular image with British photographers when photographing Atlantic puffins, which can be hand-tame — indeed, I have had puffins playfully tugging at my laces while sitting on a cliff top! 2011, David Tipling, The Bird Photography Field Guide:
   • Tamir was all her joy. She had him hand-tame, spoiled him most tenderly. 2015, Cherry Wilder, A Princess of the Chameln:

Forms

Deriveds

hand-tameness

Translations (1)

de handzahm (tame and accustomed to being held in the hand; mild; meek; humble; docile)

handtame en · VERB

Etymology

From Middle English handtame, from Old English handtam (“tame enough to be handled”), from Proto-West Germanic *handutam, equivalent to hand + tame. Cognate with Dutch handtam (“handtame”), German Low German handtamm (“handtame”), German handzahm (“handtame”).

Meanings

1. To cause (someone or something) to become accustomed to being handled
   • So now that you've decided to handtame your canary, just where do you start? 2003, Brats in Feathers, Keeping Canaries - Page 49
   • Even children can handtame wild birds, if they follow Al Martin's simple directions. 1964, Senior Citizen, volume 10, page 40:

Forms

Translations (1)

de handzahm machen (to cause to become accustomed to being handled)