empty-handed; without a gift
Often used in the adverbial form 手ぶらで to describe arriving without bringing anything, especially a gift when one is expected. The second gloss reflects a social lapse rather than a separate meaning.
手ぶらでパーティーに行くのは失礼だ。
It's rude to go to a party empty-handed.
彼はいつも手ぶらで訪ねてくる。
He always visits without bringing anything.
Compound of 手 (hand) and ぶら, an old word meaning 'empty' or 'bare'. The exact origin of ぶら is uncertain.