handcraft

From Middle English handcrafte, handecraft, hond-craft, from Old English handcræft, equivalent to hand +‎ craft. Cognate with Dutch handkracht, German Handkraft.

handcraft (plural handcrafts)

1. handicraft
2. (obsolete) The class of subjects for study that rely upon experimentation and observation.
   • 1895, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, Proceedings of the Annual Convention - Issues 8-12, page 78:

     These are, in redecraft, the English language and literature, mathematics, psychology; in handcraft, the physical sciences, physics, chemistry, biology; with regular and ample laboratory work in each.

   • 1897, Daniel Coit Gilman, A Study in Black and White, page 8:

     Accordingly, that institution or school is best which enforces habits of order, attention, obedience, discrimination, memory ; which then secures skill in handcraft and redecraft, and likewise shows how these habits and this skill may be applied in useful avocations.

handcraft (third-person singular simple present handcrafts, present participle handcrafting, simple past and past participle handcrafted)

1. To engage in handcraft or handicraft.

• handcrafter