mano

[ mah-noh; Spanish mah-naw ]

/ ˈmɑ noʊ; Spanish ˈmɑ nɔ /

Save This Word!

noun, plural ma·nos

[mah-nohz; Spanish mah-naws]. /ˈmɑ noʊz; Spanish ˈmɑ nɔs/.

the upper or handheld stone used when grinding maize or other grains on a metate.

QUIZ

SPRINT TO THE FINISH WITH THIS OLYMPICS QUIZ!

Compete in our Olympics quiz to see if you can take home the gold medal in Olympics knowledge.

Question 1 of 10

Where was the Olympics first held?

Meet Grammar Coach

Origin of mano

1895–1900, Americanism;<Spanish: literally, hand <Latin manus;cf. manual

There are still moments when referees clear out like rubberneckers to allow players to go mano a mano.
Derek Boogaard: The Player Hockey Hooked by Feeding Him Painkillers|Buzz Bissinger|June 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But the most recent opinion polls show that Sarkozy will lose that mano a mano matchup by a landslide.
French Election: Four Ways Nicolas Sarkozy Got Screwed|Christopher Dickey|April 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Filmgoers may be forgiven for expecting a climactic airborne mano-à-mano with Darth Vader—I mean Hitler.
Red Tails Overlooks the Story of America’s First Black Pilots|Marc Wortman|January 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
CNN wants emotions, theatrics, the stamping of feet, mano-a-mano anger, and outrage contests.
The President Vs. the Press|Eric Alterman|March 25, 2009|DAILY BEAST

“These mano-a-mano things always appeal to sports fans,” says Don Ohlmeyer, the former president of NBC Sports.
The Game That Turned March Mad|Seth Davis|March 17, 2009|DAILY BEAST
"Con no mas personas que con cinco seys que son el cabo de todo esto, los tomasen su mano y les cortasen las cabeas," etc.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots|Henry Baird
He is only robbed by the hotel keepers and their employees who think more of buona mano than anything else.
Italian Highways and Byways from a Motor Car|Francis Miltoun
E vedesi chi perde con gran soffi, E bestemmiar colla mano alia mascella, E ricever e dar di molti ingoffi.
Romola|George Eliot
Es que se hunden los alczares de cristal que edific la mano del invierno.
Novelas Cortas|Pedro Antonio de Alarcn
Por un momento crey que una mano fra y descarnada le sujetaba en aquel punto con una fuerza invencible.
Legends, Tales and Poems|Gustavo Adolfo Becquer