Where does “handsel” come from?
handsel (English) comes from Middle English handsell, from Old English handselen, from Old English hand, from Proto-West Germanic handu, from Swedish hand, from Old Swedish hand, from Old Norse hǫnd, from Proto-Germanic handuz — hand.
handsel (English): A lucky omen; A gift given at New Year, or at the...
Definitions
- A lucky omen; A gift given at New Year, or at the...
Ancestry of “handsel”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | handsell | — |
| 2 | Old English | handselen | a giving of something (into another's hand) |
| 3 | Old English | hand | A hand |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | handu | hand |
| 5 | Swedish | hand | A hand; A hand; the set of cards held by a player |
| 6 | Old Swedish | hand | A hand; A direction; A behalf |
| 7 | Old Norse | hǫnd | hand |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | handuz | hand |