a. [ OE. manuel, F. manuel, L. manualis, fr. manus hand; prob. akin to AS. mund hand, protection, OHG. munt, G. mündel a ward, vormund guardian, Icel. mund hand. Cf. Emancipate, Legerdemain, Maintain, Manage, Manner, Manure, Mound a hill. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the hand. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Performed by a person using physical as contrasted with mental effort; as, manual labor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Done or made by the hand. In some contexts, contrasted with automatic or mechanical. “Manual and ocular examination.” Tatham. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Manual exercise (Mil.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. manuel, LL. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

This manual of laws, styled the Confessor's Laws. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) 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). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mil.) 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.). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An alphabet of signs made by movement of the hands, used by the deaf; in it letters are represented by finger positions. See Dactylology.
Syn. -- finger alphabet. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Adroitness in using the hands. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One who works with the hands; an artificer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person who works with the hands, rather than with the mind.
Syn. -- laborer, labourer. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Labor done with the hands. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. By hand. In some contexts, contrasted with automatically. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]