Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
From toom + handed.
Tis maybe better, I'll take fat ye gee, Ye're nae toom-handed gin your heart be free1812, Alexander Ross, Alexander Thomson, Helenore: Or, The Fortunate Shepherdess. A Pastoral Tale, page 8:
From toom + handed.
What's come o' our supper, goodman, that you are coming toom-handed? Do you no think it is time your guests had something to eat, or hae ye naething either to eat or drink in this great gousty castle?2010, James Hogg, The Three Perils Of Man, →ISBN, page 177:
I wis he had na been so headstrong ; but it's a' his ain fault : howsever, it would na be canny to gang toom-handed, and I hae got a bit bill for five score pounds that I'm mindit to gie him.1823, John Galt, The Entail: Or, The Lairds of Grippy - Volume 1, page 156:
It's but sma' propine ; but I wad na come a'- thegither toom-handed, were it but for luck's sake1827, Christian Isobel Johnstone, Elizabeth de Bruce - Volume 2, page 241: