handshake etymology

Etymology

  • Middle English: hand shaken
  • Old English: hand + scacan (to shake)

Meaning

  • A friendly gesture involving two people grasping each other's hands and moving them up and down.

Origin

The handshake originated as a symbol of trust and peace. In ancient times, when warriors met on the battlefield, they would often shake hands to show that they came in peace. This gesture was also used as a way to seal agreements and contracts.

Over time, the handshake became a more common form of greeting and farewell. It is now used in many different cultures around the world as a sign of respect, friendship, and agreement.

Interesting Facts

  • The first recorded handshake in history is said to have taken place between King Darius I of Persia and the Greek general Callias in 513 BC.
  • In some cultures, it is considered impolite to shake hands with someone of the opposite sex.
  • There are different variations of the handshake, such as the grip handshake, the pump handshake, and the two-handed handshake.
  • The world's largest handshake was recorded in 2009, when over 1,200 people shook hands simultaneously.

handshake relate terms

  • hand

    Etymology The word hand comes from the Old English word hand which is itself derive

  • shake

    Etymology Middle English shaken from Old English sceacan to move to and fro violentl

  • shake

    Etymology Middle English shaken from Old English sceacan to move to and fro violentl

  • essence

    Etymology Old French essence Medieval Latin essentia from Latin esse meaning to be

  • pluck

    Etymology Middle English plukken from Old English pluccian probably from a Proto Ge

  • succor

    Etymology The word succor comes from the Old French word socors which in turn is de

  • precarious

    Etymology The word precarious comes from the Late Latin word precarius meaning obt

  • belong

    Etymology Old English belangen to concern belong to Proto Germanic bilanganą to

  • spruce

  • screen

    Etymology The word screen comes from the Old French word escran which in turn is de

  • standard

    Standard Etymology The word standard comes from the Old French word estandart meani

  • bizarre

    Etymology The word bizarre is derived from the French word bizarre which in turn co