From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
handicap
n 1: the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of
physical or mental unfitness; "reading disability";
"hearing impairment" [syn: disability, disablement,
impairment]
2: advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of
winning
3: something immaterial that interferes with or delays action
or progress [syn: hindrance, deterrent, impediment,
balk, baulk, check]
v 1: injure permanently; "He was disabled in a car accident"
[syn: disable, invalid, incapacitate]
2: attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race)
and assign odds for or against a contestant
3: put at a disadvantage; "The brace I have to wear is
hindering my movements" [syn: hinder, hamper]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Handicap \Hand"i*cap\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handicapped
(-k[a^]pt); p. pr. & vb. n. Handicapping.]
To encumber with a handicap in any contest; hence, in
general, to place at disadvantage; as, the candidate was
heavily handicapped.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
handicap \hand"i*cap\ (h[a^]n"d[i^]*k[a^]p), n. [From hand in
cap; -- perh. in reference to an old mode of settling a
bargain by taking pieces of money from a cap.]
1. An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in
starting, granted in a race to the competitor possessing
inferior advantages; or an additional weight or other
hindrance imposed upon the one possessing superior
advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the
chances of success; as, the handicap was five seconds, or
ten pounds, and the like.
[1913 Webster]
2. A race, for horses or men, or any contest of agility,
strength, or skill, in which there is an allowance of
time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize
the chances of the competitors.
[1913 Webster]
3. An old game at cards. [Obs.] --Pepys.
[1913 Webster]
4. a physical or mental disability of the body which makes
normal human activities more difficult or impossible; as,
his deformed leg was a major handicap in walking.
[PJC]
5. any disadvantage that makes an activity more difficult or
impossible; as, insufficient capital was a big handicap in
competing against Microsoft.
[PJC]