handy

adj

1. Easy to use, useful.

   “Some people regard duct tape as a handy fix-all.”

2. Nearby, within reach.

   “You wouldn’t have a screwdriver handy, would you?”

   “I keep a first-aid kit handy in case of emergency.”

   “Have you a sheet of paper handy?”

   “And finally, have potholders and a stack of old towels handy before you begin. Dye splashes and drips may occur, so protect surfaces and be prepared to clean countertops.”

3. Dexterous, skilful. (of a person)

   “She's very handy: she made all her own kitchen cupboards.”

4. (slang)Physically violent; tending to use one's fists.

   “We had a sergeant who was a bit handy with the rougher elements. He dealt with them a little bit differently to what I do.”

   “The Sloanes said he had nothing on them, that he threatened them, made up a lot of lies. Tried to attack them, got a bit handy.”

5. Of a freight ship: having a small cargo capacity (less than 40,000 DWT); belonging to the handysize class.

noun

1. (childish)The hand.

   “Clap, clap handies Mammie's wee, wee ain.”

2. (Multicultural-London-English, slang)A handgun.

   “Look left and right, when I cross these roads, I don’t wanna get fright We got handies and shotties, which one should you decide?”

3. (slang, vulgar)A hand job.
4. Synonym of mobile phone.

   “An important field of application for small rechargeable lithium ion batteries is that of the fast growing market of cellular phones or ‘handies’. 277,000,000 handies were sold worldwide in 1999.”

   ““I’m afraid Mister Franklyn is occupied until seven o’clock. He shall call when he breaks. I’ll take a handy to receive calls—”[…]The distance frees him to take phone calls on his handy.”

   “Life was good and quiet until six weeks ago when he received a phone call on his handy from Unbekannt Nummer --Unknown Number.”

name

1. A surname transferred from the nickname.
2. (rare)A male given name from English.