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hansel |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Hansel \Han"sel\, n. & v. See {Handsel}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Handsel \Hand"sel\, n. [Written also {hansel}.] [OE. handsal, hansal, hansel, AS hands?lena giving into hands, or more prob. fr Icel. handsal; hand hand + sal sale, bargain; akin to AS sellan to give deliver. See {Sell}, {Sale}. ] 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 on 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. Price; payment. [Obs.] --Spenser. {Handsel Monday}, the first Monday of the new year, when handsels or presents are given to servants, children, etc
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