back of one's hand

noun phrase

variants or back of the hand
: a show of contempt

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back of one's hand was in 1623

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Cite this Entry

“Back of one's hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20of%20one%27s%20hand. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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