handsel

1 of 2

noun

hand·​sel ˈhan(t)-səl 

1

: a gift made as a token of good wishes or luck especially at the beginning of a new year

2

: something received first (as in a day of trading) and taken to be a token of good luck

3

a

: a first installment : earnest money

b

: earnest, foretaste

handsel

2 of 2

verb

handseled or handselled; handseling or handselling ˈhan(t)-s(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to give a handsel to

2

: to inaugurate with a token or gesture of luck or pleasure

3

: to use or do for the first time

Did you know?

According to an old custom in the British Isles, the first Monday of the New Year is Handsel Monday, a day to give a small gift or good luck charm to children or to those who have served you well. As long ago as the 13th century, English speakers were using the ancestor of handsel in the context of omens and luck, eventually leading to the meaning of a good luck charm given to one at the start of some new situation or condition. By the 18th century, traders were using handsel for the first cash they earned in the morning—to them, an omen of good things to follow. Nowadays, it can also be used for something that gives a taste of things to come.

Synonyms

Noun

• bestowal
• comp
• donation
• donative
• fairing [British]
• freebie
• freebee
• gift
• giveaway
• lagniappe
• largesse
• largess
• present
• presentation

Examples of handsel in a Sentence

Noun

gave little handsels to their houseguests on New Year's Day

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hansell

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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