Dexterity
Dungeons and Dragons nerds will know this as one of the six fundamental attributes of all characters. Who doesn't remember STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, and CHA? Most of you have no idea what I'm talking about? Crap. Sorry, never mind.
It's still a cool word though, and though the noun might be difficult to fit into your writing, dextrous makes a great adjective.
dex·ter·i·ty [dekˈsterəti] n. 1. Skill and grace in physical movement, especially in the use of the hands; adroitness.
2. Mental skill or adroitness; cleverness.
Synonyms: 1. skill, mastery, touch, craft, finesse, artistry, proficiency, smoothness, neatness, deftness, nimbleness, handiness (I personally always thought agility was a near-synonym for dexterity, if not an actual synonym, but in my searches it doesn't come up)
2. cleverness, art, ability, ingenuity, readiness, aptitude, adroitness, aptness, expertness, skilfulness
Etymology: 1520s, from M.Fr. dexterité (16c.), from L. dexteritatem (nom. dexteritas) "readiness, skillfulness, prosperity," from dexter "skillful," also "right (hand)" (cf. O.Fr. destre, Sp. diestro, etc.), from PIE root *deks- "on the right hand," hence "south" to one facing east (cf. Skt. daksinah "on the right hand, southern, skillful;" Avestan dashina- "on the right hand;" Gk. dexios "on the right hand," also "fortunate, clever;" O.Ir. dess "on the right hand, southern;" Welsh deheu; Gaulish Dexsiva, name of a goddess of fortune; Goth. taihswa; Lith. desinas; O.C.S. desnu, Rus. desnoj). The Latin form is with the comparative suffix -ter, thus meaning etymologically "the better direction." M.E. dester meant "right hand," and in heraldry dexter means "on the right side."
Sorry this one got so long, but man, that etymology is no joke. Apparently, historically, people thought left-handedness was for idiots.
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