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handsel
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.

3 ENTRIES FOUND:
  1. handsel
  2. hansel
  3. Handsel Monday

1hand·sel

noun \ˈhan(t)-səl\

Definition of HANDSEL

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

Examples of HANDSEL

  1. <gave little handsels to their houseguests on New Year's Day>

Origin of HANDSEL

Middle English hansell
First Known Use: 14th century

Related to HANDSEL

Synonyms
bestowal, comp, donation, donative, fairing [British], freebie (or freebee), giveaway, gift, lagniappe, largesse (also largess), present, presentation

2handsel

transitive verb
handseled or handselledhandsel·ing or handsel·ling \-s(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of HANDSEL

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

First Known Use of HANDSEL

15th century

Rhymes with HANDSEL

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