The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

hands \hands\ n.
   1. a person's power or discretionary action; as, my fate is
      in your hands.

   Syn: custody.
        [WordNet 1.5]

   2. The force of workers available; as, all hands on deck.

   Syn: work force, manpower, men.
        [WordNet 1.5]

              A dictionary containing a natural history requires
              too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to
              be hoped for.                       --Locke.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

hands
    n 1: (with `in') guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the
         right to house and care for and discipline a child; "my
         fate is in your hands"; "too much power in the president's
         hands"; "your guests are now in my custody"; "the mother
         was awarded custody of the children" [syn: hands,
         custody]
    2: the force of workers available [syn: work force,
       workforce, manpower, hands, men]