hansel
[ han-suh l ]
/ ˈhæn səl /
noun, verb (used with object), han·seled, han·sel·ing or (especially British) han·selled, han·sel·ling.
Words nearby hansel
hansard,
hansberry,
hanse,
hanseatic,
hanseatic league,
hansel,
hansen,
hansen's bacillus,
hansen's disease,
hansetown,
hansom
Definition for hansel (2 of 2)
handsel
or han·sel
[ han-suh l ]
/ ˈhæn səl /
noun
a gift or token for good luck or as an expression of good wishes, as at the beginning of the new year or when entering upon a new situation or enterprise.
a first installment of payment.
the initial experience of anything; first encounter with or use of something taken as a token of what will follow; foretaste.
verb (used with object), hand·seled, hand·sel·ing or (especially British) hand·selled, hand·sel·ling.
to give a handsel to.
to inaugurate auspiciously.
to use, try, or experience for the first time.
Origin of handsel
OTHER WORDS FROM handsel
un·hand·seled, adjective un·hand·selled, adjectiveExample sentences from the Web for hansel
British Dictionary definitions for hansel (1 of 2)
British Dictionary definitions for hansel (2 of 2)
handsel
hansel
archaic, or dialect
noun
a gift for good luck at the beginning of a new year, new venture, etc
verb -sels, -selling or -selled or US -sels, -seling or -seled (tr)
to give a handsel to (a person)
to begin (a venture) with ceremony; inaugurate
Word Origin for handsel
Old English
handselen delivery into the hand; related to Old Norse
handsal promise sealed with a handshake, Swedish
handsöl gratuity; see
hand,
sell