n. & v. (also hansel)
n. 1 a gift at the beginning of the new year, or on coming into new circumstances. 2 = EARNEST(2) 1. 3 a foretaste.
v.tr. (handselled, handselling; US handseled, handseling) 1 give a handsel to. 2 inaugurate. 3 be the first to try.
[ ME, corresp. to OE handselen giving into a person's hands, ON handsal giving of the hand (esp. in promise), formed as HAND + OE sellan SELL ]