handicap

handicap
handicap hand"i*cap (h[a^]n"d[i^]*k[a^]p), n. [From hand in cap; -- perh. in reference to an old mode of settling a bargain by taking pieces of money from a cap.] 1. An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race to the competitor possessing inferior advantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing superior advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success; as, the handicap was five seconds, or ten pounds, and the like. [1913 Webster]

2. A race, for horses or men, or any contest of agility, strength, or skill, in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors. [1913 Webster]

3. An old game at cards. [Obs.] --Pepys. [1913 Webster]

4. a physical or mental disability of the body which makes normal human activities more difficult or impossible; as, his deformed leg was a major handicap in walking. [PJC]

5. any disadvantage that makes an activity more difficult or impossible; as, insufficient capital was a big handicap in competing against Microsoft. [PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • handicap — [ ɑ̃dikap; ɑ̃dikap ] n. m. • 1827; mot angl., probablt de hand in cap « main dans le chapeau », t. de jeu 1 ♦ Turf Course ouverte à des chevaux dont les chances de vaincre, naturellement inégales, sont égalisées par l obligation faite aux… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Handicap.fr — est un site d actualité et d information destiné à toutes les personnes concernées par le handicap. Ce média indépendant et gratuit, crée en 2002, offre de l information sur toutes les thématiques du handicap. Il informe aussi sur des services et …   Wikipédia en Français

  • handicap — HANDICÁP, handicapuri, s.n. 1. (Sport) Punctaj acordat unui concurent mai slab. ♦ Totalitatea punctelor cu care o echipă a fost pusă în inferioritate de echipa adversă. 2. fig. Greutate, piedică intervenită în munca cuiva. 3. Deficienţă… …   Dicționar Român

  • *handicap — ● handicap nom masculin (anglais handicap, de hand in cap, main dans le chapeau) Épreuve, course ou concours, dans lesquels les concurrents reçoivent ou rendent une avance de temps, de distance, de poids ou de points, de manière qu ils aient tous …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Handicap — auch Handikap (engl. hændikæp ‚Benachteiligung, Vorbelastung, Erschwerung‘) bezeichnet: eine soziale (und/oder körperliche) Benachteiligung aufgrund einer Behinderung im Sport einen Faktor zur Nivellierung unterschiedlicher Leistungsstärken,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • hándicap — 1. Voz tomada del inglés handicap (‘desventaja’), que se emplea, en hípica y en algunos otros deportes, con el sentido de ‘prueba en que se imponen desventajas a los mejores participantes, para igualar las posibilidades de todos’: «El resto del… …   Diccionario panhispánico de dudas

  • handicap — / hændikæp/, it. / ɛndikap/ s. ingl. [in origine, gioco d azzardo con monete che si estraevano a sorte da un cappello, alteraz. di hand in cap mano nel cappello ], usato in ital. al masch. 1. a. (sport.) [gara nella quale i diversi valori dei… …   Enciclopedia Italiana

  • handicap — [n1] disadvantage affliction, baggage*, barrier, block, burden, detriment, disability, drawback, encumbrance, hangup*, hindrance, impairment, impediment, injury, limitation, load, millstone, obstacle, psychological baggage*, restriction,… …   New thesaurus

  • handicap — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 7}}[wym. handikap, akcent na pierwszej sylabie] {{/stl 7}}{{stl 8}}rz. mnż I, D. u, Mc. handicappie {{/stl 8}}{{stl 20}} {{/stl 20}}{{stl 12}}1. {{/stl 12}}{{stl 7}} czynnik mobilizujący, ułatwiający zrobienie czegoś;… …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • handicap — ► NOUN 1) a condition that markedly restricts a person s ability to function physically, mentally, or socially. 2) a disadvantage imposed on a superior competitor in sports such as golf and horse racing in order to make the chances more equal. 3) …   English terms dictionary

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