n. 贺礼, 彩金

[经] 定金, 保证金

Handsel \Hand"sel\ (h[a^]nd"s[e^]l), n. [Written also {hansel}.]
[OE. handsal, hansal, hansel, AS. handselena giving into
hands, or more prob. fr. Icel. handsal; hand hand + sal sale,
bargain; akin to AS. sellan to give, deliver. See {Sell},
{Sale}. ]
1. A sale, gift, or delivery into the hand of another;
especially, a sale, gift, delivery, or using which is the
first of a series, and regarded as an omen for the rest; a
first installment; an earnest; as the first money received
for the sale of goods in the morning, the first money
taken at a shop newly opened, the first present sent to a
young woman on her wedding day, etc.

Their first good handsel of breath in this world.
--Fuller.

Our present tears here, not our present laughter,
Are but the handsels of our joys hereafter.
--Herrick.

2. Price; payment. [Obs.] --Spenser.

{Handsel Monday}, the first Monday of the new year, when
handsels or presents are given to servants, children, etc.


Handsel \Hand"sel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Handseled} or
{Handselled} (h[a^]nd"s[e^]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Handseling}
or {Handselling}.] [Written also hansel.] [OE handsellen,
hansellen; cf. Icel. hadsala, handselja. See {Handsel}, n.]
1. To give a handsel to.

2. To use or do for the first time, esp. so as to make
fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally.

No contrivance of our body, but some good man in
Scripture hath handseled it with prayer. --Fuller.