A hyphen is the punctuation sign used to join words together to make a compound, as in `left-handed'. People also use a hyphen to show that the rest of a word is on the next line. a short written or printed line (-) that joins words or syllables dash (from hyph' hen )
A mark or short dash, thus [-], placed at the end of a line which terminates with a syllable of a word, the remainder of which is carried to the next line; or between the parts of many a compound word; as in fine- leaved, clear-headed