[hand.sel] n [ME hansell] (14c) 1: a gift made as a token of good wishes or luck esp. at the beginning of a new year
2: something received first (as in a day of trading) and taken to be a token of good luck 3 a: a first installment: earnest money b: earnest, foretaste
[2]handsel vt -seled or -selled ; -sel.ing or -sel.ling (15c) 1: to give a handsel to
2: to inaugurate with a token or gesture of luck or pleasure
3: to use or do for the first time