forehand

fore- +‎ hand

• (UK) IPA^(key): /fɔːhænd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /fɔːɹhænd/

forehand (plural forehands)

1. (racket sports) A stroke in which the palm of the hand faces the direction of the stroke.
2. (disc sports) A throw similar to a sidearm throw in baseball, where the disc remains on the throwing-arm side of the body and is led by the middle finger.
3. All of the part of a horse which is before the rider.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Johnson to this entry?)

4. The chief or most important part.
   • 1602, Shakespeare, William, Troilus and Cressida, Act 1, Scene 3:

     The great Achilles, whom opinion crowns / The sinew and the forehand of our host,

5. Superiority; advantage; start; precedence.
   • William Shakespeare

     And, but for ceremony, such a wretch […] / Had the forehand and vantage of a king.

6. (surfing) The hand towards the front of the board.

• (kind of throw in sports): flick

• backhand

forehand (not comparable)

1. Beforehand; paid in advance.

   a forehand rent

• afterhand

forehand (third-person singular simple present forehands, present participle forehanding, simple past and past participle forehanded)

1. (transitive) To strike with a forehand stroke.