behand

See also: behänd

English

Etymology

From be- (“off, away”) +‎ hand, modelled after behead.

Verb

behand (third-person singular simple present behands, present participle behanding, simple past and past participle behanded)

1. (transitive) To remove the hand or hands from; cut off one's hand or hands.
   • 1909, Theodore L. Flood, The Chautauquan - Volumes 53-54 - Page 55:

     Notice the bronze hands over the fireplace. A person sentenced to be "behanded" might by law commute the punishment by paying a certain sum, and presenting a bronze hand marked with the name, crime, etc.

   • 2004, Susan C. Power, Early Art of the Southeastern Indians:

     The pit burial in a Cahokia mound of four beheaded and behanded men "could easily be personifications of the four beheaded, sacred ears of corn in a similar ritual" (Brose and Greber 1979, 264).