Legerdemain literally means "lightness of hand" — connecting magic tricks to leaven (both from Latin "light") and to manuscript and manipulate (both from Latin "hand").
Skillful use of the hands in performing conjuring tricks; sleight of hand; any artful trickery or deception.
From Middle French léger de main (light of hand), from léger (light, nimble, from Vulgar Latin *leviārius, from Latin levis, light in weight) + de (of) + main (hand, from Latin manus). The phrase literally describes the lightness and quickness of a conjurer's hands. Key roots: *legʷh- (Proto-Indo-European: "light in weight"), manus (Latin: "hand").
Legerdemain literally means "lightness of hand" — and its Latin roots connect it to leaven (both from levis, light) and to manual, manuscript, and manipulate (all from manus, hand). The English equivalent "sleight of hand" is a near-perfect calque: sleight comes from Old Norse slœgð (slyness, dexterity). Professional magicians actually prefer the term legerdemain because it foregrounds skill and dexterity