Abolish copayment for the unemployed, students, the handicapped, and poor pensioners.
He is not lingering in illness, or crippled, or handicapped.
Saudi Arabia had handicapped itself grievously with its culture of accusation.
Saenz set an orange plastic sled at the top of a handicapped access ramp.
They were born into the wrong social stratum, or were handicapped by personal weaknesses that were not their fault.
Hamlin was quite as handicapped as Mrs. Yellam by principles adopted long ago which he deemed, before the war, to be bomb-proof.
In this connection, it may be well to say that we have both been handicapped from the beginning.
They were also handicapped for want of proper fuel and plant.
The poor cripple was handicapped from the start by his infirmity.
One sees that Cincinnati has a better and a broader base; North Bend was handicapped by nature, in its early race.
"disabled," 1915, past participle adjective from handicap (v.). Originally especially of children. Meaning "handicapped persons generally" is attested by 1958.
1650s, from hand in cap, a game whereby two bettors would engage a neutral umpire to determine the odds in an unequal contest. The bettors would put their hands holding forfeit money into a hat or cap. The umpire would announce the odds and the bettors would withdraw their hands -- hands full meaning that they accepted the odds and the bet was on, hands empty meaning they did not accept the bet and were willing to forfeit the money. If one forfeited, then the money went to the other. If both agreed either on forfeiting or going ahead with the wager, then the umpire kept the money as payment. The custom, though not the name, is attested from 14c. ("Piers Plowman").
Reference to horse racing is 1754 (Handy-Cap Match), where the umpire decrees the superior horse should carry extra weight as a "handicap;" this led to sense of "encumbrance, disability" first recorded 1890. The main modern sense, "disability," is the last to develop, early 20c.
"equalize chances of competitors," 1852, but implied in the horse-race sense from mid-18c., from handicap (n.). Meaning "put at a disadvantage" is from 1864. Earliest verbal sense, now obsolete, was "to gain as in a wagering game" (1640s). Related: Handicapped; handicapping.
handicap hand·i·cap (hān'dē-kāp')
n.
A physical, mental, or emotional condition that interferes with one's normal functioning.
