/hand"fast', -fahst'/ , n.
Archaic. a covenant or contract, esp. a betrothal, usually completed by a handclasp.
[ 1150-1200; ME (ptp.), earlier handfest handfestr, ptp. of handfesta to betroth with a joining of hands, equiv. to hand HAND + festa to betroth, lit., make fast, FASTEN ]