Handsel
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈhænd.səl/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Handsel is a noun meaning A gift given at New Year, or at the start of some enterprise or new situation, meant to ensure good luck.
Meaning
A gift given at New Year, or at the start of some enterprise or new situation, meant to ensure good luck.
More Meanings
- (transitive) To give a handsel to.
- (transitive) To inaugurate by means of some ceremony; to break in.
- (transitive) To use or do for the first time, especially so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally.
- (obsolete) A lucky omen.
- (archaic) Price, payment; especially the first installment of a series.
Example Sentences
their first good handsel of breath in this world
She would leave a gold guinea to hansel the baby.
That whoso hardy hand on her doth lay , It dearly shall abye and death for handsel pay
Our present tears here, not our present laughter, / Are but the handsels of our joys hereafter.
Word Forms
- handsels
- handsale
- handsell
- hansel
- handseling
- handselling
- handseled
- handselled
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include handy, handshoe, maniple, hand, hand-kiss, handout.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.