manhandle

[ man-han-dl, man-han-dl ]
See synonyms for: manhandlemanhandling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),man·han·dled, man·han·dling.
  1. to handle roughly.

  2. to move by human strength, without the use of mechanical appliances.

Origin of manhandle

1
1425–75; late Middle English. See man, handle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use manhandle in a sentence

  • Physically I had fully recovered from my terrible manhandling, but in spirit I still writhed at the outrage of it.

    The Trail of '98 | Robert W. Service
  • Suddenly the mountain of flesh and the debile victim that he was ruthlessly manhandling disappeared from view.

    Officer 666 | Barton W. Currie
  • "I can hardly believe you are the same man I saw manhandling your enemy an hour ago," she declared.

    The Pride of Palomar | Peter B. Kyne
  • Presently the giant paused in manhandling his men, and sniffed the air.

    The Moon Colony | William Dixon Bell

British Dictionary definitions for manhandle

manhandle

/ (ˈmænˌhændəl, ˌmænˈhændəl) /


verb(tr)
  1. to handle or push (someone) about roughly

  2. to move or do by manpower rather than by machinery

Origin of manhandle

1
C19: from man + handle; sense 1 perhaps also influenced by Devon dialect manangle to mangle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012