overhand

[oh-ver-hand]

adjective

thrown or performed with the hand raised over the shoulder; overarm: overhand stroke.

with the hand and part or all of the arm raised above the shoulder: to pitch overhand.

(in sewing and embroidery) with close, shallow stitches over two edges.

adverb Also o·ver·hand·ed.

with the hand over the object: to grasp one's fork overhand.

noun

an overhand stroke, throw, or delivery.

verb (used with object)

to sew overhand.

Origin of overhand

First recorded in 1860–65; over- + hand

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for overhand

Historical Examples of overhand

She threw the sticks with the overhand swing of a boy pitching a ball.
Shifting Sands
Sara Ware Bassett
That would be as silly as using an overhand stab with a dagger.
Nor Iron Bars a Cage....
Gordon Randall Garrett
Pin to the band and overhand, taking a stitch for each pleat of the gathers.
Handicraft for Girls
Idabelle McGlauflin
Overhand closely from right to left with short even stitches.
Handicraft for Girls
Idabelle McGlauflin
Hold the button with the left hand and overhand the loop to the cloth.
Handicraft for Girls
Idabelle McGlauflin

British Dictionary definitions for overhand

overhand

adjective

thrown or performed with the hand raised above the shoulder

sewn with thread passing over two edges in one direction

adverb

with the hand above the shoulder; overarm

with shallow stitches passing over two edges

verb

to sew (two edges) overhand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for overhand

adv.

1570s, "upside down," from over- + hand. Sense in tennis, etc., in reference to hand position above that which is gripped, is first recorded 1861. As an adjective, of throws, strokes, or bowls, "done with the hand raised above the shoulder," it is first recorded 1828 (in cricket).