Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A gift to express good wishes at the beginning of a new year or enterprise.
- noun The first money or barter taken in, as by a new business or on the opening day of business, especially when considered a token of good luck.
- noun A first payment.
- noun A specimen or foretaste of what is to come.
- transitive verb To give a handsel to.
- transitive verb To launch with a ceremonial gesture or gift.
- transitive verb To do or use for the first time.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To give handsel to; use or do for the first time; try as for luck.
- noun A gift or token of good fortune or good will; especially, a New-Year's gift; an earnest or earnest-penny; a sale, gift, or delivery which is regarded as the first of a series; the first money taken in the morning in the way of trade; the first earnings of any one in a new employment or place of business; the first money taken in a shop newly opened; the first present sent to a young woman on her wedding-day, etc.
- Used or employed for the first time; newly acquired or inherited.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun 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.
- noun obsolete Price; payment.
- noun the first Monday of the new year, when
handsels or presents are given to servants, children, etc. - transitive verb To give a handsel to.
- transitive verb To use or do for the first time, esp. so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun obsolete A lucky
omen . - noun A gift given at
New Year , or at the start of some enterprise or new situation, meant to ensure good luck. - noun The first
installment , or first payment of money in a day or series. - verb transitive To give a handsel to.
- verb transitive To
inaugurate by means of someceremony ; tobreak in . - verb transitive To use or do for the first time, especially so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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What a handsel is this dead hound, after I had rejoiced in its weight266!
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He would instantly give him a 'handsel' of harrying to stay his proud stomach.
Border Ghost Stories Howard Pease
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“Nakat,” with the double meaning of to spot and to handsel especially dancing and singing women; and, as Mr. Payne notes in this acceptation it is practically equivalent to the
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This they did with entire diligence and he bade them also handsel all who were present with large gifts and dismiss them each to his country with honour and renown; he also charged his governors to rule the people with justice and enjoined them to be tender to the poor as well as to the rich and bade succour them from the treasury, according to their several degrees.
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Then pulling out a brass token, resembling a dinar, she said to the maid, who was a simpleton, “Take this ducat and go in to thy mistress and say to her, ‘Umm al-Khayr rejoiceth with thee and is beholden to thee for thy favours, and on the day of assembly she and her daughters will visit thee and handsel the tiring-women with the usual gifts.’”
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“But these gentlemen,” said Trois Eschelles, looking towards the chimney, “do not these help, and so take a handsel of our vocation?”
Quentin Durward 2008
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An he came in quest of aught, we will aid him, and if he have a blood-feud with one of the Kings, we will ride with him; or, if he desire a gift, we will handsel him; for this is indeed a numerous host and a power uttermost, and we fear for our land from its mischief.
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She was wild with joy at the thought that she and Lucien would handsel this gift together; she would drive with him in the new carriage; and in her happiness, she seemed to love Camusot, she lavished caresses upon him.
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For she caused to be constructed a very large chamber under ground, and making as though she would handsel it but in her mind devising other things, she invited those of the Egyptians whom she knew to have had most part in the murder, and gave a great banquet.
The History of Herodotus Herodotus 2003
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And, as I trow, said Sir Sagramore, ye shall have the same handsel that he had.
bilby commented on the word handsel
"According to custom in the British Isles, Handsel Monday is a day to give a small gift or good luck charm to children or to those who have served you well: 'Every penny of every handsel received by children in the village was in the sweet shop till by the end of the day.' The gift is called a handsel and is
intended to symbolize the first in a long line of gifts or good luck throughout the year."
- Dr Goodword, 1 Jan 2008.
Handsel Monday is therefore the first Monday of the New Year, particularly in the British Isles.
January 1, 2008
hernesheir commented on the word handsel
Yorkshire dialect word for the money paid to bind a contract or to seal a bargain. From Old Norse hand-sal - "pledge", "bargain".
June 27, 2009
qms commented on the word handsel
A "pot" has black bonds to a "kettle"
And "fine" is companion to "fettle."
Let no year begin
By splitting a twin,
For Handsel can't live without Gretel.
January 1, 2014
gangerh commented on the word handsel
Hah!
January 1, 2014