Manual
Manual (man"u*al) , adjective
[Old English manuel, French manuel, Latin manualis, from manus hand; prob. akin to Anglo-Saxon mund hand, protection, Old High German munt, German mundel a ward, vormund guardian, Icelandic mund hand. Compare Emancipate, Legerdemain, Maintain, Manage, Manner, Manure, Mound a hill.]
1.
Of or pertaining to the hand.
2.
Performed by a person using physical as contrasted with mental effort; as, manual labor.
3.
Done or made by the hand. In some contexts, contrasted with automatic or mechanical.
Manual and ocular examination.
Collocations (3)
Manual exercise (Military) , the exercise by which soldiers are taught the use of their muskets and other arms.
Seal manual , the impression of a seal worn on the hand as a ring.
Sign manual , See under Sign.
Manual , noun
[Compare French manuel, Late Latin manuale. See Manual, a.]
1.
A small book, such as may be carried in the hand, or conveniently handled; a handbook; specifically, the service book of the Roman Catholic Church.
This manual of laws, styled the Confessor's Laws.
2.
(Music) A keyboard of an organ or harmonium for the fingers, as distinguished from the pedals; a clavier, or set of keys. — Moore (Encyc. of Music)
3.
(Military) A prescribed exercise in the systematic handing of a weapon; as, the manual of arms; the manual of the sword; the manual of the piece (cannon, mortar, etc.).