all-hands
|all/hands|
B2
/ɔːl-hændz/
full participation
Etymology
Etymology Information
'all-hands' originates from the nautical term 'all hands on deck,' where 'hands' referred to sailors or crew members.
Historical Evolution
'all hands' was used in maritime contexts to refer to the entire crew being needed on deck, and eventually became a general term for full participation.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'all crew members,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'involving everyone.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
involving all members of a group, especially in a work or military context.
The company called for an all-hands meeting to discuss the new policy.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45