■ noun
1》 a condition that markedly restricts a person's ability to function physically, mentally, or socially.
2》 a disadvantage imposed on a superior competitor in sports such as golf and horse racing in order to make the chances more equal.
↘the extra weight given as a ~ to a racehorse or other competitor.
↘the number of strokes by which a golfer normally exceeds par for a course.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped ) act as a ~ to; place at a disadvantage.
Phrases
out of the ~ Horse Racing having a ~ rating that would merit carrying a weight below the minimum specified for a race.
Derivatives
~per noun
Word History
Handicap entered the language in the 17th century, deriving from the phrase hand in cap . This was the name given to an old pastime in which one person claimed an article belonging to another and offered something in exchange, any difference in value being decided by an umpire. All three deposited forfeit money in a cap; the two opponents showed their agreement or disagreement with the valuation by bringing out their hands either full or empty. If both were the same, the umpire took the forfeit money; if not it went to the person who accepted the valuation. The term ~ race was applied in the late 18th century to a horse race in which an umpire decided the weight to be carried by each horse, the owners showing acceptance or dissent in a similar way: hence in the late 19th century ~ came to mean the extra weight given to the superior horse.