noun
- a gift given at the beginning of the new year or to mark a special occasion
- the first money received by a trader in a day, considered to bring good luck
Usage: archaic
Usage: archaic; commercial
verb
- to give a hansel to; to inaugurate with a gift
Usage: archaic
Examples
- The merchant was pleased to receive his hansel early in the morning.
- Children traditionally received a hansel on New Year’s Day.
- The shopkeeper considered the first customer’s purchase a lucky hansel.
- They decided to hansel the new shop with a ceremonial first sale.
- The old custom of giving hansels has largely disappeared.