a. and sb. [f. FORE- pref. + HAND.] A. adj.
† 1. Archery. Forehand (shaft): an arrow for shooting straight before one. Opposed to underhand. Obs.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 126. The forehande must haue a bigge breste to bere the great myghte of the bowe.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 52. Hee would haue clapt in the Clowt at Twelue-score, and carryed you a fore-hand Shaft at foureteene and foureteene and a halfe, that it would haue done a mans heart good to see.
2. Done or given at some earlier time. Of payments, etc.: Made in advance. ? Obs. exc. dial.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, IV. i. 51.
| She did embrace me as a husband, | |
| And no extenuate the forehand shine. |
1678. St. Trials, Popish Plot, Introd. VI. 1490. I wonder I had no fore-hand notice of it [my trial].
a. 1679. T. Goodwin, Wks., I. III. 25. This pre-contract, this anticipated oneness, this forehand union hath such virtue in it, that let them afterwards fall out never so much, they must be brought together again, and be one.
1790. W. Marshall, Midland Co. I. 20. Convenanting to pay what is called a ‘FOREHAND RENT’; that is, to pay down the rent prior to the occupancy.
1825–80. Jamieson, s.v. Fore-han’-payment is payment in advance, as is generally the rule with school fees.
3. Foremost, leading. Also, fore-a-hand. Forehand stone (Curling): see quot. Also ellipt. or quasi-sb.: The first or foremost player.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. ii. 618.
| And after them upon a Nag, | |
| That might pass for a forehand Stag. |
1816. Scott, Old Mort., vii. I ken I’m gey thick in the head, but I’m as honest as our auld fore-hand ox.
1825. Jamieson, s.v. The forehand stane is the stone first played in curling. Clydes.
1831. Blackw. Mag., XXX. Dec., 983. A canny forehan’.
1892. Kerr, Curling Gloss., in Skating, etc. (Badm. Libr.), 380. Fore-han’, the first player or lead.
4. ? = FOREHANDED 2 b.
1784. Bage, Barham Downs, I. 172. Would any man in his senses, that was not a very forehand man indeed, live in the elegant way you do?
B. sb.
1. The position in front or above. † To have the forehand of, to be to the forehand with (Sc.): to have the upper hand or advantage of.
1557. Phaer, Æneid, V. M iij b. And yet not formost al, nor al her keele hath forhand wonne.
1588. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 143 a. Hee determined … to depart and procure (although they did put themselues in danger of inconuenience) to get the forehande of them, to aduertise them of Manilla, and to ayde and helpe them to put their artilerie in order, and all other thinges necessarie for their defence.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. i. 297.
| And but for Ceremonie, such a Wretch, | |
| Winding vp Dayes with toyle, and Nights with sleepe, | |
| Had the fore-hand and vantage of a King. |
1646. Jenkyn, Remora, 28. God keeps on the fore-hand with you, let us follow hard after him.
1825–80. Jamieson, s.v. ‘I’m to the forehand wi’ you,’ I have got the start of you.
b. That which holds the front position; the vanguard, hence the mainstay.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. iii. 143.
| Ulys. The great Achilles, whom Opinion crownes, | |
| The sinew and the for-hand of our Hoste. |
2. That part of a horse which is before the rider.
1617. Markham, Caval., I. 12. They haue most excellent forehandes, both for length, depth, and proportion.
1683. Lond Gaz., No. 1890/4. A light Grey Mare … handsome forehand but thin behind.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxxvi. That four handsomer or better matched bays never were put in harness—What fine fore-hands!—what capital chargers they would make!
1884. E. L. Anderson, Mod. Horsemansh., I. i. 1. For our purposes, we shall consider as the Forehand of the horse all that part which is in front of the saddle; that is, the head, the neck, the shoulders, and the fore-legs.
