handIcap, handycappe

& a. [For hand i(n) cap, for the drawing of lots out of a hat or cap. A. As substantive : *1. Cards : An old game at cards, not unlike loo, but with this difference; the winner of one trick had to put a double stake into the pool, the winner of two tricks a triple stake, and so on. "Here some of us felle to handycappe , a sport that I never knew before.- Pepys : Diary , Sept. 18, 1660. 2. Racing : (1) The allowance of time, distance, or weight Liade to the inferior competitors in a race with the object of bringing all as nearly as po ible to an equality; the extra weight imposed upon a superior horse in order to reduce his chance of winning to an equality with that of an inferior animal. The allowance of time or distance by a superior to an inferior performer is the system generally adopted in races between pedestrians, the imposition of extra weight that adopted in horse-racing. The handicap is framed in accordance with the known previous performances of the competitors, and in horse-racing also with regard to the sex and age of the animals engaged. The principle is the same in other contests, as in billiards a superior player is handicapped by having to allow his inferior competitor a start of a certain number of points. (2) A race or contest in which the competitors are brought as nearly as po ible to an equality by the allowance of time, distance, ., or the imposi tion of extra weight. "The most important handicaps of the year."-London Field. B. As adj .: A term applied to a race or contest in which the competitors are handicapped. hand-1-căp, v. t. [HANDICAP, 8.] 1. Lit .: To bring the competitors in a race or other contest as nearly as po ible on an equality, by the allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to the inferior competitors, or by imposing extra weight, distance, ., upon the superior. 2. Fig .: To embarra , hinder, or impede in any way, as compared with others. (Often with adv. heavily .)