Handsel

n. [Dan. handsel, händsel, Sw. handsöl, Icel. handsal, O. D. hanseel; A-S. handselen, handsyllen, a giving into hands, handsellan, hand-syllan, to deliver up, from sellan, syllan, to give, deliver. See SEL and SALE.] A sale, gift, or delivery into the hand of another; especially, a sale, gift, or delivery, or a 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, &c. “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.

[The buried child] was my first handsel and propine to heaven. Mrs. A. S. Monteath.

v. t. To give a handsel to; to use or do for the first time, especially so as to make fortunate or unfortunate.

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