Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Handsel?

\Hand"sel\, n. [Written also {hansel}.] [OE. handsal, hansal, hansel, AS. hands?lena 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 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. 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. Price; payment. [Obs.] --Spenser. {Handsel Monday}, the first Monday of the new year, when handsels or presents are given to servants, children, etc.
\Hand"sel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Handseled} or {Handseled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Handseling} or {Handselling}.] [Written also hansel.] [OE handsellen, hansellen; cf. Icel. hadsala, handselja. See {Handsel}, n.] 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. No contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath handseled it with prayer. --Fuller.