Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (2)
1. 
 a wheel worked by hand; 
2. 
 control consisting of a wheel whose rim serves as the handle by which a part is operated; 
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Handwheel \Hand"wheel`\ (-hw[=e]l), n. (Mach.)
   Any wheel worked by hand; esp., one the rim of which serves
   as the handle by which a valve, car brake, or other part is
   adjusted.
   [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
handwheel
    n 1: a wheel worked by hand
    2: control consisting of a wheel whose rim serves as the handle
       by which a part is operated