Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Red-hand \Red"-hand`\ (r?d"h?nd`), Red-handed \Red"-hand`ed\ (-h?nd`?d), a. or adv. Having hands red with blood; in the very act, as if with red or bloody hands; -- said of a person taken in the act of homicide; hence, fresh from the commission of crime; as, he was taken red-hand or red-handed.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1781, earlier red-hand (early 15c.), originally in Scottish legal writing, from red (adj.1) + -handed; presumably from the image of a murderer with hands still stained with blood.
Wiktionary
a. 1 Having clear evidence of guilt. 2 deadly, bloody. 3 With hands that are red. adv. With clear evidence of guilt.
WordNet
adj. in the act of committing a crime or other reprehensible act; "caught red-handed"
adv. doing something reprehensible or showing clear evidence of having done something reprehensible; "he was caught red-handed"
Wikipedia
"Red-Handed" is the 15th episode of the American fairy tale/drama television series Once Upon a Time, which aired in the United States on ABC on March 11, 2012.
The series takes place in the fictional seaside town of Storybrooke, Maine, in which the residents are actually characters from various fairy tales that were transported to the "real world" town by a powerful curse. This episode deals with Red Riding Hood's backstory, and Ruby being hired by Emma.
It was written by Jane Espenson, while being directed by Ron Underwood.
Usage examples of "red-handed".
According to agreement, Pierre Buttel was tried by the archers, who promptly transformed themselves into a court of justice, and as he had been taken red-handed, and did not condescend to defend himself, the trial was not a long affair.
The stash in his coat pocket Sunday night at the Jiffy Stop was red-handed prima facie evidence.
The terrifying word of them flew before them, and the strong and able either fled or took to their keeps or mottes or fortified steadings with all their retainers, kindred, and kine, while the weak and helpless rushed to join immediately they came in proximity to the red-handed worshipers of the Mother.
And to give me my due, red-handed reaver though I was, cutting down my rival from behind was less in my mind than discovering what dread thing had Tamera in its clutches.
Caught absolutely red-handed, liberals started in with their typical bellicose counterattacks.
Duke of Norfolk, Earl of Rutland, Markgraf von Velegrad, Baron of Strathtyne, and now red-handed sea robber.
They were carefully recruited in midlife, usually after having been caught red-handed at something nasty.
He had played invalid in order that he might slip from the house every night in an effort to catch Shipton red-handed.
Then the red-handed butchering-party ascended to the main gundeck by way of one of the stern ladders.
There was astonishing audacity on the part of Toledo, in basing arguments on the alleged cruelty and tyranny of the Incas, when the man was actually red-handed with the blood of an innocent youth, and engaged in the tyrannical persecution of his relations and the hideous torture of his followers.
It includes not striking bargains with terrorists or paying ransom, directly or indirectly, everl -Terrorists who observe no civilized code should not expect, when caught red-handed, to shelter under laws and principles which they despise.
I will seize by the collar all the perpetrators, continually caught red-handed in the commission of all these outrages!
I am unjustly enjoying the honors and rewards that should rightly go to men whose deeds are and have been more worthwhile than have been those of the red-handed professional killer I am become.
It's a shot at getting Josh back alive and nailing his abductors red-handed.
At Creil, where we stopped to lunch, we left the canoes in another floating lavatory, which, as it was high noon, was packed with washerwomen, red-handed and loud-voiced.