1. A method of recognizing a handwritten word of cursive script, said method comprising: providing a template of previously classified words; optically reading a handwritten word so as to form an image representation thereof comprising a bit map of pixels; extracting an external pixel contour of said bit map; detecting vertical peak and minima pixel extrema on upper and lower zones of said external contour respectively; determining respective feature vectors of said vertical peak and minima pixel extrema and comparing said feature vectors with said template so as to generate a match between said handwritten word and a said previously classified word.