Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Han(d)sel(l, n. Also: hansill. [e.m.E. handsell, ME. honde-selle, hanselle, hancel (1303), handselne (c 1200), OE. handselen, ON. handsal.] A good-luck gift, esp. one given at the beginning of the New Year; a present or reward; earnest-money.(1) 1375 Barb. v. 120.
Sic hansell to the folk gaf he, Richt in the first begynnyng, Newly at his ariwyng c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxx. 8.
God gif to thé ane blissed chance … In hansill of this guid new ȝeir a1578 Pitsc. II. 121/27.
God send ws better handsell and mair forder in our wayage a1605 Montg. Flyt. 484.
For we have [heght] to Mahoun, for hansell, his hair 1600-1610 Melvill 270.
He was my first propyne and hansell to heavin 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 46.
We are soldiers going to mak our provision befor the campaigne, and you wil do wel to give us hansel 1672 Foulis Acc. Bk. i. 1691 Ib. 131.
In hansell to pipers and drumers(2) ?1438 Alex. ii. 4668.
Thare sik hansell gaue he me That I am takin 1513 Doug. ix. x. 104.
Sik boydword heir the twys takin Troianys Sendis for hansell to Rutylianys a1605 Montg. Flyt. 348.
As hard be thair hansell that helpis thé to ocht 1629 Boyd Last B. 368.
It shall bee your best to take the first handsell of time for well doing(3) a 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlviii. 87.
Albeid l haif tynsell, ȝet mon I tak hansell, To pay my buth maill and my stand

b. Hansel Monday, the first Monday of the year, on which the New Year's handsel is given. 1635 Buccleuch Mun. I. 275.
Send some moneyes heir to me again Hansel Monday that I may gratifie my master and other seruants 1671 Lauder Journals 244.
Then on the 2^d of January 1671, being hansell Monday, I gave my wife to give out to people who expected handsel, 4 dollars