I. ˈman-yə-wəl, -yəl, -yü-əl adjective
Etymology: Middle English manuel, from Anglo-French, from Latin manualis, from manus hand; akin to Old English mund hand and perhaps to Greek marē hand
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : of, relating to, or involving the hands
manual dexterity
b. : worked or done by hand and not by machine
a manual transmission
manual computation
manual indexing
2. : requiring or using physical skill and energy
manual labor
manual workers
• man·u·al·ly adverb
II. noun
Date: 15th century
1. : a book that is conveniently handled ; especially : handbook
an instruction manual
2. : the prescribed movements in the handling of a weapon or other military item during a drill or ceremony
the manual of arms
3.
a. : a keyboard for the hands ; specifically : one of the several keyboards of an organ or harpsichord that controls a separate division of the instrument
b. : a device or apparatus intended for manual operation