handling

Definition

A touching, controlling, managing, using, taking care of, etc., with the hand or hands, or as with the hands.

Etymology

From Middle English handlinge, hondlunge, from Old English handlung (“handling”), equivalent to handle + -ing. Cognate with Dutch handeling (“trade, operation, action”), German Handlung (“act, action”), Swedish handling (“act, deed, action”).

Example Sentences

• "baggage handling"
• "the heauens, and your faire handeling / Haue made you maister of the field this day"
• "1864, Oregon. Legislative Assembly. House of Representatives […] at San Francisco it is warehoused and reshipped to Liverpool, or other foreign market; and in exchange for this wheat, comes back the merchandise which has to pass through all these shipments, reshipments, warehousings, handlings, &c."