Wordnet 3.0
ADJECTIVE (1)
1.
in the act of committing a crime or other reprehensible act;
- Example: "caught red-handed"ADVERB (1)
1.
doing something reprehensible or showing clear evidence of having done something reprehensible;
- Example: "he was caught red-handed"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
red-handed
adv 1: doing something reprehensible or showing clear evidence
of having done something reprehensible; "he was caught
red-handed"
adj 1: in the act of committing a crime or other reprehensible
act; "caught red-handed"