Definition of hand out

The origin of the phrase "hand out" can be traced back to the late 1800s in the English language. At that time, "hand" was used to describe the act of giving or distributing something, while "out" meant away or far. When these two words were put together, "hand out" came to mean "to distribute something by using your hand to put it into someone else's hand." The phrase originally referred to the distribution of food, money, or other items to people who were in need, such as the poor or the sick. Today, it is a commonly used phrase in many English-speaking countries that denotes the action of distributing things, particularly in a charitable or beneficial context.