HANDSEL • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Handsel

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verb

Handsel v. t. (past & past part. handseled or handselled; pres. part. handseling or handselling)

To give a handsel to.

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."

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Etymology of 'Handsel'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Handsel" Quotes from Famous Books

... Cannie!" said the proctor, "dix me, but you're a pleasant fellow—come girls, you must buy something—handsel him. You got no handsel to-day, Cannie?" he added, winking at the pedlar to ...

— The Tithe-Proctor - The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two • William Carleton

... through the bushes, and snatch From your victim some trinket to handsel first blood: A button, a loop, or that luminous patch That gleams in the moon like ...

— War Poetry of the South • Various

... our best we give for cess, Having naught above Handsel of our happiness, Seizin of our love. Take it then, O fairies! Homely gods that guard and bless, Little ...

— Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, January 7, 1914 • Various