Pronounced: NOO-muhn, noun
Notes: An odd word, I think
Yesterday’s word
The word handsel means, as a noun
- a gift for good luck given at the beginning of the new year or a new venture
- a first payment or installment
As a verb, it means
- to give a handsel to
- to inaugurate or to do something for the first time
First usage
Our word came into English in the mid-1400s
Background / Comments
Because our word makes me think of the fairy tale, I keep thinking that it would be fun to refer to “Gretel’s handsel”. Our word came from the Old English word handselen (giving into the hand), which is made up of hand and selen (the action of giving; gift).
Richard's Vocabulary Word-of-the-Day 