second hand

[sek-uhnd hand, sek-uhnd hand]

noun

1. the hand that indicates the seconds on a clock or watch.

2. an assistant or helper, as to a worker or foreman.

second-hand

¹

adjective

1. previously owned or used

2. not from an original source or experience

3. dealing in or selling goods that are not new

   a second-hand car dealer

adverb

1. from a source of previously owned or used goods

   he prefers to buy second-hand

2. not directly

   he got the news second-hand

second hand

²

noun

1. a pointer on the face of a timepiece that indicates the seconds Compare hour hand minute hand

Word History and Origins

Origin of second hand¹

1425–75 second hand for def. 3; 1750–60 second hand for def. 1; late Middle English

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at second hand, from or through an intermediate source or means; secondhand.

   She had the news at second hand.

see at second hand.

Example Sentences

She also said Wolverhampton had numerous second hand uniform banks, based at community centres and churches around the city.

From BBC

"They brought in second hand clothes for example, that's normal now, but back then it was seen as absolutely radical to have a shopping department store doing that," he said.

From BBC

The salvaged materials are sold to costume designers, ravers, and people in the burlesque industry, who save by buying second hand.

From BBC

"When the second hand market becomes more valuable because of rarity, that is problematic because our business is affected."

From BBC

Tom Yuen, 31, from Cardiff, was searching for second hand door panels when he found the note, from 1947, which he says felt like a "handshake through time".

From BBC