all hands

1 of 2

plural noun

1

: an entire ship's company

2

: everybody engaged in the same pursuit

all-hands

2 of 2

adjective

ˈȯl-ˈhandz 

: characterized by the participation or contributions of all individuals in a group

an all-hands effort

And this Friday, the agency's deputy administrator … will come to NASA Glenn, in part to hold an all-hands meeting with employees …

—Becky Gaylord, Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio), 5 Aug. 2003

Word History

First Known Use

Plural Noun

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1840, in the meaning defined above

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