Meanings
plural handcrafts
- obsoleteThe class of subjects for study that rely upon experimentation and observation.
These are, in redecraft, the English language and literature, mathematics, psychology; in handcraft, the physical sciences, physics, chemistry, biology; with regular and ample laboratory work in each.
1895, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, Proceedings of the Annual Convention - Issues 8-12, page 781 more example
Accordingly, that institution or school is best which enforces habits of order, attention, obedience, discrimination, memory ; which then secures skill in handcraft and redecraft, and likewise shows how these habits and this skill may be applied in useful avocations.
1897, Daniel Coit Gilman, A Study in Black and White, page 8
present singular third person handcrafts · participle present handcrafting · participle past handcrafted · past handcrafted
- To engage in handcraft or handicraft.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Old Englishhandcræft
- Middle Englishhandcrafte
- Englishhandcraft
From Middle English handcrafte, handecraft, hond-craft, from Old English handcræft, equivalent to hand + -craft. Cognate with Dutch handkracht, German Handkraft.
More words from Middle English, Old English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish tehdä käsityötä
- tehdä käsityötäto engage in handcraft or handicraft
Polish tworzyć przy pomocy rąk, stworzyć przy pomocy rąk
- tworzyć przy pomocy rąkto engage in handcraft or handicraft
- stworzyć przy pomocy rąkto engage in handcraft or handicraft
Cite this entry
handcraft. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/handcraft
“handcraft.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/handcraft. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “handcraft,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/handcraft.
Source: handcraft on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.