handshake
handshake Lexical Profile
handshake Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An act of grasping and briefly moving another person's hand up and down, used as a gesture of greeting, farewell, congratulation, or agreement.
"The two executives sealed the business agreement with a firm handshake."
An automated exchange of signals between two electronic devices or computer systems that establishes connection parameters before data communication begins.
"The secure server connection failed because the cryptographic handshake timed out."
• verb
To exchange standardized electronic signals in order to establish a communication link (of two computer systems or devices).
"The modem must handshake with the remote router before any packets can be transmitted."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the early 16th century as a compound of the native English words 'hand' and 'shake'. Historically, the gesture is thought to have originated in antiquity as a way of demonstrating peaceful intent by showing that one's hand held no weapon.