English

handplay

Handplay may come from Middle English *handpleie.

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

Formed from hand + play

Proto-Germanic *handuz

Proto-West Germanic *handu

Old English hand

Middle English hond

English hand

Proto-West Germanic *plegō ‘an exercise’

Proto-West Germanic *plegōn ‘to move; to engage, practice’

Old English plegian ‘to play’

Middle English pleyen ‘to engage in a game or sport’

English play

Every English word from Middle English *handpleie

noun Hand-to-hand combat.

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