From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
hands \hands\ n.
1. a person's power or discretionary action; as, my fate is
in your hands.
Syn: custody.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. The force of workers available; as, all hands on deck.
Syn: work force, manpower, men.
[WordNet 1.5]
A dictionary containing a natural history requires
too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to
be hoped for. --Locke.