Handraise

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A gesture made by raising an arm as a signal for attention or to request the opportunity to speak
2. an action commonly used in classroom settings or meetings to indicate a desire to contribute
3. a method of indicating willingness to participate or answer questions during discussions or presentations

Etymology: "Hand" comes from Old English "hand," one of the most stable words in the language, with cognates across Germanic. "Raise" is more of a traveler. English borrowed it from Old Norse "reisa," the causative form of "rīsa," meaning "to rise." Old English already had a native verb "rǣran" with the same causative sense, so the two words ran side by side, and "raise" won out in standard use. Because "raise" means "make rise," the compound describes a gesture that literally causes the hand to go up. Compounds like this are usually transparent and rarely have a single coiner. A "handraise" is the act of lifting a hand, most often in a meeting or classroom, to signal a wish to speak. The noun and verb forms appear mainly in modern usage, so the exact date of first use is uncertain.

Synonyms: raise hand, signal, ask for attention