* Handy: This word comes from the Old English word "hændig," meaning "skillful with one's hands."
* Man: This word comes from the Old English word "mann," meaning "human being, male person."
Therefore, "handyman" literally means "a man who is skillful with his hands." It originally referred to a man who was good at doing various household repairs and tasks.
The term has since become more gender-neutral and can refer to anyone who is skilled at fixing and maintaining things around the home.