n. | 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. |
| 2. | Price; payment. |
v. t. | 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. |