\Man"u*al\ (m[a^]n"[-u]*al), a. [OE. manuel, F. manuel,
L. manualis, fr. manus hand; prob. akin to AS. mund hand,
protection, OHG. munt, G. m["u]ndel a ward, vormund guardian,
Icel. mund hand. Cf. {Emancipate}, {Legerdemain}, {Maintain},
{Manage}, {Manner}, {Manure}, {Mound} a hill.]
Of or pertaining to the hand; done or made by the hand; as,
manual labor; the king's sign manual. ``Manual and ocular
examination.'' --Tatham.
{Manual alphabet}. See {Dactylology}.
{Manual exercise} (Mil.) the exercise by which soldiers are
   taught the use of their muskets and other arms.
{Seal manual}, the impression of a seal worn on the hand as a
   ring.
{Sign manual}. See under {Sign}.

\Man"u*al\, n. [Cf. F. manuel, LL. manuale. See {Manual},
a.]
1. A small book, such as may be carried in the hand, or
   conveniently handled; a handbook; specifically, the
   service book of the Roman Catholic Church.
         This manual of laws, styled the Confessor's Laws.
                                               --Sir M. Hale.
2. (Mus.) A keyboard of an organ or harmonium for the
   fingers, as distinguished from the pedals; a clavier, or
   set of keys. --Moore (Encyc. of Music).
3. (Mil.) A prescribed exercise in the systematic handing of
   a weapon; as, the manual of arms; the manual of the sword;
   the manual of the piece (cannon, mortar, etc.).