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Entry 4 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Handsel

/(hănd"sĕl)/ · Hand·sel · IPA /ˈhænd.səl/
01 n. 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 regard…
  1. 1.
    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.
    “Their first good handsel of breath in this world.” — Fuller.
    “Our present tears here, not our present laughter, Are but the handsels of our joys hereafter.” — Herrick.
  2. 2.
    Price; payment.[Obs.]
Phrases & compounds
Handsel Monday — the first Monday of the new year, when handsels or presents are given to servants, children, etc.
02 v. t. To give a handsel to.
imp. & p. p. Handseled; p. pr. & vb. n. Handseling
  1. 1.
    To give a handsel to.
  2. 2.
    To use or do for the first time, esp. so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally.
    “No contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath handseled it with prayer.” — Fuller.