I. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: fore- + hand
1. archaic : superior position : advantage
2. obsolete : the chief or most important part
3. : the part of a horse that is before the rider
4. Britain : a working foreman or supervisor ; especially : one in charge of a process or apparatus in copper extracting
5. : a forehand stroke (as in tennis or racquets)
a player with an excellent forehand
also : the side on which such strokes are made
he took the ball on his forehand
played to his opponent's forehand
— opposed to backhand
6.
[translation of German vorderhand lead]
: the player in skat whose turn to bid comes first
[s]forehand.jpg[/s] [
forehand 5
]
II. adverb
: with a forehand stroke
III. adjective
Etymology: fore (II) + hand
1. obsolete : done or given in advance : prior , anticipative — see forehand rent
2. of a stroke in racket games : made on the side of the playing arm with the palm forward