1852. Bristed, Upper Ten Thousand, p. 67. Then ... he tied his white hand-pieces to an opening made for the purpose on one side of the dashboard. Handsaw, subs. (common).—A street vendor of knives and razors; an itinerant Chive-fencer (q.v.). Handsome, adj. and adv. (colloquial, and formerly literary).—Sharp, severe; convenient, fit; neat, graceful; dextrous, skilful, ready; ample, generous, liberal; manageable; in good or proper style; and (in America) grand or beautiful. 1553. Wilson, Arte of Rhetorique, p. 3. Phauorinus the Philosopher did hit a yong man ouer the thumbes very handsomely. 1553–99. Spenser, Wks. For a thief it is so handsome, As it may seem it was first invented by him. 1590. Goldynge, Cæsar, p. 220. They had not so handsome horses. 1593. Shakspeare, Titus Andronicus, ii., 3. If we miss to meet him handsomely. 1600. P. Holland, Livy, p. 255. A light footman’s shield he takes with him, and a Spanish blade by his side, more handsome to fight short and close. 1604. Shakspeare, Winter’s Tale, iv., 3. His garments are rich, but he wears them not handsomely. 1614. Raleigh, History of the World, Bk. III., ch. viii., § 6. Playing their games handsomely against so nimble a wit. 1672–1719. Addison, Wks. An alms-house, which I intend to endow very handsomely. 1778–79. V. Knox, Essays, 102. A handsome sum of money. 1798. Lodge, Illust. Brit. Hist., i., 178. He is very desyrus to serve your Grace, and seymes to me to be a very handsome man. 1848. Ruxton, Life in the Far West, p. 8. He turned on his back handsome. To do the handsome (or the handsome thing), verb. phr. (common).—To behave extremely well; to be ‘civil.’ 1887. Manville Fenn, This Man’s Wife, ii., 15. Sir Gordon’s ready to do the handsome thing. Handsome is that handsome does, phr. (colloquial).—‘Actions, not words, are the test of merit’; also ironically of ill-favoured persons. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Handsome is that handsome does: a proverb frequently cited by ugly women. Handsome-bodied in the face, adv. phr. (old).—See quot. 1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Handsome Bodied Man in the Face, a jeering commendation of an ugly fellow. Handsome as a last year’s corpse, adv. phr. (American).—A sarcastic compliment. Handsomely! intj. (nautical).—Gently! A cry to signify smartly, but carefully. Also Handsomely over the bricks = Go cautiously. Handsome-reward, subs. phr. (old).—See quot. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Handsome-reward. This, in advertisements, means a horse-whipping. Handsprings. To chuck handsprings, verb. phr. (common).—To turn somersaults. Handstaff, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick and Prick. [From that member of the flail which is held in the hands]. Handy. Handy as a pocket in a shirt, phr. (American).—Very convenient.