- hansel
- Handsel Hand"sel (h[a^]nd"s[e^]l), n. [Written also {hansel}.]
[OE. handsal, hansal, hansel, AS. handselena giving into
hands, or more prob. fr. Icel. handsal; hand hand + sal sale,
bargain; akin to AS. sellan to give, deliver. See {Sell},
{Sale}. ]
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 an 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.
[1913 Webster]
Their first good handsel of breath in this world. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]
Our present tears here, not our present laughter, Are but the handsels of our joys hereafter. --Herrick. [1913 Webster]
2. Price; payment. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
{Handsel Monday}, the first Monday of the new year, when handsels or presents are given to servants, children, etc. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
