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If we say “we only have a handful of rice, then technically do we only have the amount of rice that fills up just one palm alone, or is it the amount that fillms the palms of both hands?

Is there anyone saying “technically we only have two handfuls of rice”?

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    As interesting as the question is, it can still be answered using a dictionary, as it stands here, and is therefore off-topic. Please see the help section.
    – Jim Reynolds
    Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 15:00
  • Imagine a hand cupped so as to resemble a large spoon or scoop.
    – Robusto
    Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 15:06
  • It's not technical. There's no standard of measure established by any measurement standardizing government institution by any government, recognized or otherwise. But non-technically, it means mostly just one hand. No one is saying "technically we have 2 handfuls of rice". Don't get so hung up on technicalities. Wait, is someone trying to cheat you out of rice?
    – Mitch
    Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 15:48
  • The more approximate sense given by Dictionary.com 2. a small amount, number, or quantity is the only one I'd regard as sensible to consider here. Even I would measure using standard cups or spoons.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 16:25
  • I've always understood it to mean one hand. But, as others indicate, the measure is incredibly imprecise. (Just image the variation in the size of human hands.)
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 18:45

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Dictionaries (from the OED to online references) define "handful" as the quantity that fills up the hand, so the amount you can grasp in one hand. For two hands' worth, we have "double handful." From August is a Good Time for Killing by Martin Greenberg:

Tom scooped up a double handful of silver money. "Take it, sir," he said. "and you may have as much more as you want of it." He poured into the dish that the good man made of his hands,...

For more than a double handful, use the plural "handfuls."

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Handful

noun, plural handfuls.

1.the quantity or amount that the hand can hold: a handful of coins.

A handful refers to the amount that can be held in one hand, not both.

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  • so "2 handfuls of rice" is ok?
    – Tom
    Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 14:59
  • If that's what you want to say, yes. The amount of rice held in both of your hands would be equivalent to two handfuls of rice.
    – Blubberguy22
    Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 15:04
  • Please include citations for direct quotations.
    – user98990
    Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 15:44
  • The link is in the word "Handful."
    – Blubberguy22
    Commented Jul 13, 2015 at 15:49

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