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. ] 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 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their first good handsel of breath in this world. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our present tears here, not our present laughter,
Are but the handsels of our joys hereafter. Herrick. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Price; payment. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Handsel Monday, the first Monday of the new year, when handsels or presents are given to servants, children, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Handseled or Handselled p. pr. & vb. n. Handseling or Handselling. ] [ Written also hansel. ] [ OE handsellen, hansellen; cf. Icel. hadsala, handselja. See Handsel, n. ] 1. To give a handsel to. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To use or do for the first time, esp. so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally. [ 1913 Webster ]

No contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath handseled it with prayer. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]