Ma'anar ƙamus na jimlar "ƙushin gwiwar hannu" tana nufin wani yanki na kayan aiki na kariya da ake sawa a gwiwar gwiwar hannu don ɗaurewa da kare shi daga rauni ko tasiri. Ana amfani da mashin gwiwar hannu a ayyuka daban-daban, kamar wasanni kamar wasan hockey, ƙwallon ƙafa, da wasan ƙwallon ƙafa, inda gwiwar hannu ke cikin haɗarin samun rauni. Yawanci ana yin su ne da kumfa ko wasu kayan da ke ɗaukar girgiza kuma ana sanya su a waje na tufafi ko kayan wasanni don ba da ƙarin kariya ga haɗin gwiwar gwiwar hannu.