Meaning of handsel | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A lucky omen.
   obsolete
2. A gift given at New Year, or at the start of some enterprise or new situation, meant to ensure good luck.
3. Price, payment; especially the first installment of a series.
   archaic

Equivalents

Examples

“their first good handsel of breath in this world”

“Our present tears here, not our present laughter, / Are but the handsels of our joys hereafter.”

“That whoso hardy hand on her doth lay , It dearly shall abye and death for handsel pay”

“"I see the first handsel that God gives them on their voyage to the Land of Promise; thirst and bitterness." (From Contemplations, Book Five, Contemplation 1, The Waters of Marah (Found in volume 1 of The Works of Joseph Hall, edited by Peter Hall, published by Talboys, Oxford, 1837, page 88))”

CEFR level