manici

Manici is the plural of the Italian noun manico, meaning handle or grip. The term denotes the part of an object designed to be held or grasped to lift, carry, or operate it. It is widely used for cookware such as pots and pans, for kitchen utensils, and more generally for any tool, container, furniture component, or device that features a graspable extension. For example, the handle of a pot or the grip of a hammer can be referred to as a manico.

In Italian usage, there is a subtle distinction with related terms. Maniglia typically refers to a handle, knob, or pull that is actively grabbed, commonly found on doors or drawers, whereas impugnatura refers to the grip or handle in a broader sense, including the way one holds a tool or weapon. Manico emphasizes the handle itself or the haft of an object.

Etymologically, manico derives from the root referring to the hand (mano) and the action of grasping; the plural form manici is used for multiple handles. The word is common in everyday language and is found in product descriptions, manuals, and instructional texts.