Sekirov Dictionary

handsel

/ˈhænd.səl/

noun 3
verb 3
forms 5

noun3

•
A gift given at New Year, or at the start of some enterprise or new situation, meant to ensure good luck.
- Our present tears here, not our present laughter, / Are but the handsels of our joys hereafter. — 1648
•
(no longer used) Price, payment; especially the first installment of a series.
- That whoso hardy hand on her doth lay , It dearly shall abye and death for handsel pay — 1596
(no longer used) A lucky omen.

verb3

To inaugurate by means of some ceremony; to break in.
•
To use or do for the first time, especially so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally.
- Indeed there is no contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath hanselled it with prayer. — 1647
•
To give a handsel to.
- She would leave a gold guinea to hansel the baby. — 2002

forms

handseled · handselled · handseling · handselling · handsels

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