cack-handed

American  

[kak-han-did] / ˈkækˈhæn dɪd /

adjective

Chiefly British Informal.

1. clumsy; lacking skill with the hands.

2. left-handed.

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cack-handed British  

/ ˌkækˈhændɪd /

adjective

1. left-handed

2. clumsy

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Etymology

Origin of cack-handed

First recorded in 1850–55; origin uncertain; perhaps from Old Norse keikr “bent backwards”; akin to Danish keite “left-handed”; perhaps from English dialect cack, keck “awkward” (of unknown origin). An obsolete noun sense “excrement” is found in Old English (in cac-hūs “latrine” ); the obsolete verb sense ( mid-15th century ) appears in Middle English cakken “to void excrement,” from Latin cacāre; akin to Greek kakkân “to void excrement,” Middle Irish cacc “dung,” and perhaps to Greek kakós “bad”

Example Sentences

“They play cack-handed, that is to say, they hold the club with the left hand down the shaft and swing it right.”

From Golf Digest • Apr. 14, 2020

One senior figure told the BBC the reshuffle was "vengeful and cack-handed".

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2016

He slurps, stumbles with the equipment and generally gives the impression of being a cack-handed work experience bloke let in to the studio for a mess-around.

From The Guardian • Jan. 24, 2013

You wouldn't catch other sports making such a sorry show of itself in such a cack-handed way.

From The Guardian • Aug. 23, 2012

So Mr Ferry's cack-handed advocacy of French journalistic caution ended up having precisely the opposite effect to the one intended.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2011