[ 'hans(ə)l ]
(also handsel ) archaic or US
■ noun a gift given at the beginning of the year or the start of an enterprise, supposedly to bring good luck.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ling , ~led ; US ~s , ~ing , ~ed ) give a ~ to.
↘inaugurate.
Origin
ME (denoting luck): appar. related to OE handselen 'giving into a person's hands', and ON handsal 'giving of the hand to seal a promise', from hand + an element related to sell .