handhabend

1 of 2

adjective

hand·​hab·​end

variants or handhaving

ˈ⸗ˌ⸗⸗

: having possession of stolen goods

—used in Old English law of a thief caught with the loot

handhabend

2 of 2

noun

"

variants or handhaving

"

plural -s

: the jurisdiction to try a handhabend thief

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

handhabend from Middle English, from Old English handhabbend, from hand, hond hand + habbend, present participle of habben to have

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