handsel

C2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ˈhænsəl/ UK /ˈhænsəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #202306

Meanings

1

noun
a gift or token given at the beginning of a new year, enterprise, or situation as a sign of good luck

The shopkeeper gave each apprentice a coin as a New Year handsel.
2

noun
a first payment, first experience, or foretaste regarded as an omen of what will follow

The early order was a welcome handsel for the new business.
3

verb
to inaugurate, use, or experience something for the first time, often with a token of luck

They chose the holiday to handsel the newly restored hall.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a gift or token given at... good-luck gifttoken

2 noun · a first payment, first... earnest foretastefirst installment

3 verb · to inaugurate, use, or... inaugurate initiate

More gift

Word family

Forms handselled

Derived forms Handsel Monday

Related forms hanselgift omen

Etymology

From Middle English handsell, Old English handselen, and related Old Norse handsal, literally a 'hand-gift' or agreement sealed by joining hands. The good-luck gift produced senses for a first payment, foretaste, and inaugural use. Hansel is a less common spelling.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# handsel

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈhænsəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈhænsəl/
**Frequency rank:** 202306

## Meanings
1. a gift or token given at the beginning of a new year, enterprise, or situation as a sign of good luck
2. a first payment, first experience, or foretaste regarded as an omen of what will follow
3. to inaugurate, use, or experience something for the first time, often with a token of luck

## Examples
- The shopkeeper gave each apprentice a coin as a New Year handsel.
- The early order was a welcome handsel for the new business.
- They chose the holiday to handsel the newly restored hall.

## Synonyms
- gift
- token
- earnest
- foretaste

## Derived Forms
- Handsel Monday

## Related Forms
- hansel
- gift
- omen

## Etymology
From Middle English handsell, Old English handselen, and related Old Norse handsal, literally a 'hand-gift' or agreement sealed by joining hands. The good-luck gift produced senses for a first payment, foretaste, and inaugural use. Hansel is a less common spelling.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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