Handy friends? (7)

I believe the answer is:

palmate

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'handy' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for palmate that I've seen is " Web-footed".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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