handshake

[ hand-sheyk ]

noun

1. a gripping and shaking of right hands by two individuals, such as to symbolize greeting, congratulation, agreement, or farewell:

   It was a verbal contract, sealed with a firm handshake.

2. Also handshaking. Computers. an exchange of predetermined signals between networked or linked devices that is made when a connection is initially established or at intervals during data transmission in order to assure proper synchronization (also used attributively):

   A successful handshake is required between the server and client before the application will launch.

   Two handshake signals are exchanged between the computer and the printer—one from each device.

handshake

/ ˈhændˌʃeɪk /

noun

1. the act of grasping and shaking a person's hand, as when being introduced or agreeing on a deal

Word History and Origins

Origin of handshake¹

First recorded in 1870–75; hand + shake

Idioms and Phrases

see golden handshake .

Example Sentences

An email newsletter is a great digital handshake between a consumer and a publisher….

From Digiday

Butler and Wise still perform a handshake that ends with them pretending to shoot a Kamehameha wave at each other.

From Washington Post

Their value is a product of digital handshakes over millions of transactions firming up that consensus.

From TechCrunch

I was warned by other midshipmen that I would fail on the spot if I initiated a handshake.

From Nautilus

It is the shop clerk’s smile, the salesman’s hearty handshake, because the audience now is a customer base, and the customer is always right.

From MIT Technology Review

She tried the direct, how-do-you-do handshake approach, but was blocked by a burly aide-de-camp.

From The Daily Beast

George offers a firm handshake and stays present with each fan for the moment or two that they have his attention.

From The Daily Beast

Forget matters strategic, you may say; banish from your head all thoughts of a military or security handshake.

From The Daily Beast

“Get your act together,” we said real manfully like, eye to eye, with a firm handshake.

From The Daily Beast

Case in point: the TV deals they had completed for the two previous seasons had been done via handshake.

From The Daily Beast

He stretched out a hand in silence and gave me a hearty handshake; and I shook the reins and thundered up the road to Staunton.

From Project Gutenberg

They exchanged the hearty, lingering handshake of trusty friendship and deep affection.

From Project Gutenberg

As far as sentiments go, the cable is by chalks the heartiest handshake we poor relations to the West have had since we started.

From Project Gutenberg

They have a nodding-from-a-motor-acquaintance with it but I like a real handshake-friendship with it.

From Project Gutenberg

There was nothing of genuine American heartiness in the handshake he gave Frank.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arrangement
• bargain
• bond
• commitment
• guarantee
• obligation
• pact
• pledge
• record
• settlement