handling

Etymology 1

From Middle English handlinge, hondlunge, from Old English handlung (“handling”), equivalent to handle + -ing. Cognate with Dutch handeling (“trade, operation, action”), German Handlung (“act, action”), Swedish handling (“act, deed, action”).

noun

1. A touching, controlling, managing, using, take care of, etc., with the hand or hands, or as with the hands.
   1864, Oregon. Legislative Assembly. House of Representatives […] at San Francisco it is warehoused and reshipped to Liverpool, or other foreign market; and in exchange for this wheat, comes back the merchandise which has to pass through all these shipments, reshipments, warehousings, handlings, &c.
2. (obsolete) The mechanism for handling or manipulating something.
   In mortal terror of people forcing an entrance at such an hour, and in such a manner as to leave no doubt of their purpose, I would have turned to fly when first I heard the noise, only that I feared by any quick motion to catch their attention, as I also ran the danger of doing by opening the door, which was all but closed, and to whose handlings I was unaccustomed. 1861, Elizabeth Gaskell, The Grey Woman
3. (art) The mode of using the pencil or brush; style of touch.
   A miniature[…]remarkable for its brilliancy of colour and charming freedom of handling. 1840, William Makepeace Thackeray, Critical Reviews
4. A criminal offence, the trade in stolen goods.

Etymology 2

From handle.

verb

1. present participle and gerund of handle