thirdhand

[ thurd-hand ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

previously used or owned by two successive people.
(loosely) secondhand, especially in poor condition.
obtained through two intermediates successively; twice removed from the original source.

adverb

after two other users or owners:
He bought the guitar thirdhand.
by way of several intermediate sources; indirectly.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of thirdhand¹

First recorded in 1545–55; third + hand

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Example Sentences

The problem is, people can’t seem to agree on certain Kibbe “rules” because most information about the system, as Kibbe himself has pointed out, is from second- or thirdhand sources.

From Vox

There were rumors that it was delicious, but all the reports seemed to be thirdhand.

From Outside Online

All the witnesses could offer were thirdhand accounts or deathbed confessions that came decades after the fact.

From The Daily Beast

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