noun
Meaning 1
A lucky omen.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
handsel
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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UK: /ˈhænd.səl/
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UK: /ˈhæn.səl/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -ændsəl
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rhymes with -ænsəl
noun
Meaning 2
A gift given at New Year, or at the start of some enterprise or new situation, meant to ensure good luck.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
Price, payment; especially the first installment of a series.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To give a handsel to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To inaugurate by means of some ceremony; to break in.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
To use or do for the first time, especially so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English handsell, hanselle, from Old English handselen and/or Old Norse handsal (literally “hand-gift”). Cognate with Scots hansel, Danish handsel.
Across languages
Translations
6 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Finnish: uudenvuodenlahja — gift given at New Year
- French: étrennes — gift given at New Year
- Swedish: nyårspresent — gift given at New Year
- Bulgarian: капаро (kaparo) — payment; especially the first installment of a series.
- Persian: دشت — payment; especially the first installment of a series.
- Turkish: siftah — payment; especially the first installment of a series.