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hand·sel

(hăndsəl) also han·sel (hăn-) Chiefly British

1. A gift to express good wishes at the beginning of a new year or enterprise.

2. The first money or barter taken in, as by a new business or on the opening day of business, especially when considered a token of good luck.

a. A first payment.

b. A specimen or foretaste of what is to come.

tr.v. hand·seled, hand·sel·ing, hand·sels or hand·selled or hand·sel·ling

1. To give a handsel to.

2. To launch with a ceremonial gesture or gift.

3. To do or use for the first time.

[Middle English hanselle, from Old English handselen, a handing over (hand, hand + selen, gift) and from Old Norse handsal, legal transfer (hand, hand + sal, a giving).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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