hand·ful n.; pl. handfuls
 1. As much as the hand will grasp or contain.
 2. A hand's breadth; four inches. [Obs.]
    Knap the tongs together about a handful from the bottom.   --Bacon.
 3. A small quantity or number.
    This handful of men were tied to very hard duty.   --Fuller.
 To have one's handful, to have one's hands full; to have all one can do. [Obs.]
    They had their handful to defend themselves from firing.   --Sir. W. Raleigh.

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