verb
- past tense of hansel; to give a gift for good luck, especially at the beginning of a new year or venture
Usage: archaic
Examples
- The villagers hanseled the newlyweds with coins and bread.
- She hanseled her nephew with a silver piece on New Year’s Day.
- The merchant was hanseled by his first customer of the morning.
- They hanseled the new shop owner for prosperity.
- The tradition required that children be hanseled with small tokens.