handtame

comparative more handtame · superlative most handtame · alternative hand-tame

1. Tame and accustomed to being held in the hand; (by extension) mild; meek; humble; docile

   Tamir was all her joy. She had him hand-tame, spoiled him most tenderly.

   2015, Cherry Wilder, A Princess of the Chameln

   2 more examples

   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

present singular third person handtames · participle present handtaming · participle past handtamed · past handtamed · alternative hand-tame

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

   1 more example

   Even children can handtame wild birds, if they follow Al Martin's simple directions.

   1964, Senior Citizen, volume 10, page 40