to hansel
9.9
To give a small gift to wish someone luck when they start something
- verb
- Archaic
:
regalar
- Traditionally, neighbors would hansel a new house with bread and salt for good luck.
Examples
-
It was customary to hansel the shop on opening day with a small token.
-
They decided to hansel their new boat by sharing a meal on its first voyage.
-
Let's hansel this new venture with something special!
-
Did you remember to hansel the restaurant before opening?
-
Traditionally, neighbors would hansel a new house with bread and salt for good luck.
-
It was customary to hansel the shop on opening day with a small token.
-
They decided to hansel their new boat by sharing a meal on its first voyage.
Synonyms
to gift
vsto hansel
27
2.1
To give someone something as a present
marks a beginning with a small token meant as good luck
How Formal
to bestow
74
5.6
- Formal
74
5.6
to present
225
2.7
- Formal
225
2.7
to hansel
- Archaic
to gift
27
2.1
27
2.1
to give
∞
1.0
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Etymology
Hansel comes from an old idea about the hand, meaning 'into the hand', so to hansel something is to give a small gift or token at its first use to wish it good luck.