Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Manual \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}.

Manual \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.).

Source : WordNet®

manual
     n 1: a small handbook
     2: (military) a prescribed drill in handling a rifle [syn: {manual
        of arms}]

manual
     adj 1: of or relating to the hands; "manual dexterity"
     2: requiring human effort; "a manual transmission" [ant: {automatic}]
     3: doing or requiring physical work; "manual labor"; "manual
        laborer" [syn: {manual(a)}]