English

handback

Presumably from the verb hand + back

Formed from hand + back

Proto-Germanic *handuz

Proto-West Germanic *handu

Old English hand

Middle English hond

English hand

Proto-Germanic *baką ‘back’

Proto-West Germanic *bak

Old English bæc

Middle English bak ‘the back’

English back

Today it means

noun The act of handing something back.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / handback