Hand"ful (?), n.; pl. Hand flus (#). [AS. handfull.]
1.
As much as the hand will grasp or contain.
Addison.
2.
A hand's breadth; four inches.
[Obs.]
Knap the tongs together about a handful from the bottom.
Bacon.
3.
A small quantity.
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.
© Webster 1913.