noun Archaic. a covenant or contract, especially a betrothal, usually completed by a handclasp.
Origin: 1150–1200; Middle English (past participle), earlier
handfest <
Scandinavian; compare
Old Norse handfestr, past participle of
handfesta to betroth with a joining of hands, equivalent to
hand hand +
festa to betroth, literally, make fast,
fasten