c.1730, a method of digging ore, from French manipulation, from manipule "handful" (a pharmacists' measure), from Latin manipulus "handful, sheaf, bundle," from manus "hand" (see manual) + root of plere "to fill" (see pleio-). Sense of "skillful handling of objects" is first recorded 1826; extended 1828 to "handling of persons" as well as objects.