English

handpiece

From hand + piece.

A compound of hand + piece

Proto-Germanic *handuz

Proto-West Germanic *handu

Old English hand

Middle English hond

English hand

Late Latin pettia ‘fragment’

Old French piece

Middle English pece ‘piece’

English piece

Today it means

noun The part of a dental drill, surgical instrument, etc. that is held in the hand.

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

Etymograph / handpiece