handicap

Etymology

From hand-in-cap, in reference to holding the game stakes in a cap.

noun

1. Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.
   Age is often a handicap.
2. (sports) An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race (or other contest of skill) to the competitor possessing disadvantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success.
   The older boy won, even though his opponent had been granted a handicap of five meters.
   A handicap in chess often involves removal of the queen's rook.
   Eventually the elephant and camel were depatched by themselves with two laps start of the bicyclist and horse, the motor car being scratch. It was a sensational race owing to the conduct of the field, but on the handicap the elephant won, bicycle second, motor car third. 1901, “Gleanings”, in The Agricultural Journal and Mining Record, volume 4, number 1, page 31
3. (sometimes considered offensive) The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people.
4. A race or similar contest in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.
5. (obsolete, uncountable, card games) An old card game, similar to lanterloo.
   Here some of us fell to handicap, a sport that I never knew before, which was very good. 1660, Samuel Pepys, Diary of Samuel Pepys, page 95
6. (obsolete, uncountable) Synonym of hand-in-cap (“old English trading game”)

verb

1. (transitive) To encumber with a handicap in any contest.
2. (transitive, figurative, by extension) To place at disadvantage.
   The candidate was handicapped by her lack of experience.
3. To estimate betting odds.
   Grandpa Andy would buy the racing form the day ahead of time so he could handicap the race before he even arrived at the track.