handout

[ hand-out ]

noun

1. a portion of food or the like given to a needy person, as a beggar.
2. press release.
3. any printed, typed, mimeographed, or photocopied copy of information, as a speech, policy statement, or fact sheet given to reporters, attendees at a meeting, or the like.
4. anything given away for nothing, as a free sample of a product by an advertiser.

Word History and Origins

Origin of handout¹

First recorded in 1880–85 handout fordef 1 and in 1905–10 handout fordef 2; noun use of verb phrase hand out

Example Sentences

The handout paints a dire picture, but the qat users of Guangzhou are successful businessmen.

From The Daily Beast

He wants “more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe.”

From The Daily Beast

Ooe produces a fixed menu with an accompanying handout that lists the indigenous ingredients included in each small plate.

From The Daily Beast

Romney implied that these folks are lazy and undeserving, always looking for a handout.

From The Daily Beast

As I paid my check, my eye fell on a handout beside the cash register.

From The Daily Beast

It appears like I'm givin' all I've got for a handout at the kitchen door of the big company.

From Project Gutenberg

I find that in asking for a handout the man who looks up-to-date is the man who gets it.

From Project Gutenberg

For a festive handout cut the spice cake or fruit cake in slices and sandwich them with slices of tasty cheese between.

From Project Gutenberg

Beside them, the once-fierce dog gamboled like a puppy, hoping for another handout.

From Project Gutenberg

Maybe we asks fer a handout now and then; but that ain't our reg'lar way.

From Project Gutenberg