a gift or token for good luck or as an expression of good wishes, as at the beginning of the new year or when entering upon a new situation or enterprise.
2.
a first installment of payment.
3.
the initial experience of anything; first encounter with or use of something taken as a token of what will follow; foretaste.
A gift to express good wishes at the beginning of a new year or enterprise.
The first money or barter taken in, as by a new business or on the opening day of business, especially when considered a token of good luck.
A first payment.
A specimen or foretaste of what is to come.
tr.v.
hand·seled or hand·selled also han·seled or han·selled, hand·sel·ing or hand·sel·ling also han·sel·ing or han·sel·ling, hand·sels also han·sels
To give a handsel to.
To launch with a ceremonial gesture or gift.
To do or use for the first time.
[Middle English hanselle, from Old English handselen, a handing over (hand, hand + selen, gift) and from Old Norse handsal, legal transfer (hand, hand + sal, a giving).]
[han-suh
l] 
noun, verb, -seled, -sel⋅ing or (especially British