forehand

plural forehands

1. racket sportsA stroke in which the palm of the hand faces the direction of the stroke.

   the devastating speed of her forehand return

   Antonyms: backhand

2. disc sportsA throw similar to a sidearm throw in baseball, where the disc remains on the throwing-arm side of the body and is led by the middle finger.

   Synonyms: flick

3. All of the part of a horse which is before the rider.

   […]those horses which are of a chicke Forehand, short necked

   1618, Michel Baret, An Hipponomie […]

4. archaicThe chief or most important part.

   The great Achilles, whom opinion crowns / The sinew and the forehand of our host

   1602, William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, act 1, scene 3

5. Superiority; advantage; start; precedence.

   And, but for ceremony such a wretch, Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep, Had the forehand and vantage of a king

   1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

6. hobbiesThe hand towards the front of the board.

   Antonyms: backhand

1. not comparableBeforehand; paid in advance.

   a forehand rent

present singular third person forehands · participle present forehanding · participle past forehanded · past forehanded

1. transitiveTo strike with a forehand stroke.

plural Forehands

1. A surname.