The Collaborative International Dictionary
Handsel \Hand"sel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handseled or Handselled (h[a^]nd"s[e^]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Handseling or Handselling.] [Written also hansel.] [OE handsellen, hansellen; cf. Icel. hadsala, handselja. See Handsel, n.]
To give a handsel to.
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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.
Handsel \Hand"sel\ (h[a^]nd"s[e^]l), n. [Written also hansel.] [OE. handsal, hansal, hansel, AS. handselena giving into hands, or more prob. fr. Icel. handsal; hand hand + sal sale, bargain; akin to AS. sellan to give, deliver. See Sell, Sale. ]
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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. -
Price; payment. [Obs.]
--Spenser.Handsel Monday, the first Monday of the new year, when handsels or presents are given to servants, children, etc.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context obsolete English) A lucky omen. 2 A gift given at New Year, or at the start of some enterprise or new situation, meant to ensure good luck. 3 The first installment, or first payment of money in a day or series. 4 (context obsolete English) price; payment vb. 1 (context transitive English) To give a handsel to. 2 (context transitive English) To inaugurate by means of some ceremony; to break in. 3 (context transitive English) To use or do for the first time, especially so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally.
Wikipedia
Usage examples of "handsel".
I am sure that before Handsel departs here I shall be able to answer that question.
Who knows what beautiful and winged life, whose egg has been buried for ages under many concentric layers of woodenness in the dead dry life of society, deposited at first in the alburnum of the green and living tree, which has been gradually converted into the semblance of its well-seasoned tomb—heard perchance gnawing out now for years by the astonished family of man, as they sat round the festive board—may unexpectedly come forth from amidst society's most trivial and handselled furniture, to enjoy its perfect summer life at last!
Once the bargain was handselled, he had to persuade his men to go along.
The lads, dressed like their papas, seemed uncomfortable in their new clothes (many that day handselled their first pair of boots), and by their sides, speaking never a word, wearing the white dress of their first communion lengthened for the occasion, were some big girls of fourteen or sixteen, cousins or elder sisters no doubt, rubicund, bewildered, their hair greasy with rose-pomade, and very much afraid of soiling their gloves.