Word Frequency
handsel or hansel (ˈhænsəl
)
Definitions
(archaic (or dialect)noun
- a gift for good luck at the beginning of a new year, new venture, etc
verb
-sels, -selling, -selled, (US) -sels, -seling, -seled tr- to give a handsel to (a person)
- to begin (a venture) with ceremony; inaugurate
Word Origin
Old English handselen delivery into the hand; related to Old Norse handsal promise sealed with a handshake, Swedish handsöl gratuity; see hand, sellExample Sentences Including 'handsel'
That, madam, is what is known at sea as the ``sailors' handsel '.THE RIVAL QUEENS: A Countess Ashby de la Zouche Mystery (2002)
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