Handsel

From Fresh Dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative spellings 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.4 Transitive verb

English

Alternative spellings

• hansel

Etymology

Old English handsal, hansal, hansel, Anglo Saxon handslen a giving into hands, or more probably from Icelandic handsal; hand hand + sal sale, bargain; akin to Anglo Saxon sellan to give, deliver. See sell, sale.

Noun

handsel

1. A sale, gift, or delivery into the hand of another; especially, a sale, gift, delivery, or using which is the first of a series, and regarded as on omen for the rest; a first installment; an earnest; as the first money received for the sale of goods in the morning, the first money taken at a shop newly opened, the first present sent to a young woman on her wedding day, etc.

   Quotations

   • Their first good handsel of breath in this world. - Fuller
   • Our present tears here, not our present laughter, Are but the handsels of our joys hereafter. - Herrick

2. (Obsolete): Price; payment - Spenser

Derived terms

• Handsel Monday, the first Monday of the new year, when handsels or presents are given to servants, children, etc.

Transitive verb

to handsel (third-person singular simple present handsels, present participle handseling, simple past handseled, past participle handseled)

1. To give a handsel to.
2. To use or do for the first time, esp. so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally.

   ’’’Quotations’’’

   • No contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath handseled it with prayer. - Fuller