all hands

1 of 2

plural noun

1
: an entire ship's company
2
: everybody engaged in the same pursuit

all-hands

2 of 2

adjective

: characterized by the participation or contributions of all individuals in a group
an all-hands effort
And this Friday, the agency's deputy administrator … will come to NASA Glenn, in part to hold an all-hands meeting with employees …Becky Gaylord, Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio), 5 Aug. 2003

Word History

First Known Use

Plural Noun

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of all hands was in 1580

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Dictionary Entries Near all hands

Cite this Entry

“All hands.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all%20hands. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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