HANDSEL

I. noun Etymology: Middle English hansell Date: 14th century a gift made as a token of good wishes or luck especially at the beginning of a new year, something received first (as in a day of trading) and taken to be a token of good luck, 3. a first installment ; earnest money, earnest , foretaste , II. transitive verb (-seled or -selled; -seling or ~ling) Date: 15th century to give a ~ to, to inaugurate with a token or gesture of luck or pleasure, to use or do for the first time