handling; manipulation; dexterity
Refers to skillful use of the hands, often in cooking, crafts, or dealing with objects. Can also imply smooth management of tasks or people.
His knife handling is superb.
I was impressed by the craftsman's dexterity.
Common spelling using kana for さばき, easier to read and write.
Kanji spelling using 捌く; less common but seen in formal or literary contexts.
Compound of 手 (hand) and さばき, the nominalized form of 捌く (to handle skillfully). The exact historical derivation is straightforward.