The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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.
      [1913 Webster]

            This manual of laws, styled the Confessor's Laws.
                                                  --Sir M. Hale.
      [1913 Webster]

   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).
      [1913 Webster]

   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.).
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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.]
   1. Of or pertaining to the hand.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Performed by a person using physical as contrasted with
      mental effort; as, manual labor.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Done or made by the hand. In some contexts, contrasted
      with automatic or mechanical. "Manual and ocular
      examination." --Tatham.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

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

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

71 Moby Thesaurus words for "manual":
   Sefer Torah, Torah, Torah scroll, Virginal, abecedarium, abecedary,
   alphabet book, battledore, breviary, canon, casebook, choir,
   church book, claviature, compendium, console, cookbook,
   cookery book, directions, echo, eighty-eight, enchiridion,
   euchologion, euchology, exercise book, farse, field guide,
   fingerboard, formulary, gradus, grammar, great, guide, guidebook,
   handbook, hornbook, how-to book, instructions, ivories, keyboard,
   keys, lectionary, litany, machzor, manual of instruction, missal,
   nature book, ordinal, organ manual, pedals, piano keys, pontifical,
   prayer book, primer, reader, ritual, rituale, rubric, schoolbook,
   service book, siddur, solo, speller, spelling book, swell, t, text,
   textbook, travel book, vade mecum, workbook



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

MANUAL. That which is employed or used by the hand, of which a present
profit may be made. Things in the manual occupation of the owner cannot be
distrained for rent. Vide Tools.