Handsel v. t. (past & past part. handseled or handselled; pres. part. handseling or handselling)
1.
To give a handsel to.
2.
To use or do for the first time, esp. so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally. "No contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath handseled it with prayer."
... Such handsel is not new unto mine ears; Therefore let Fortune turn her wheel around As it may please her, and the churl ... — Divine Comedy, Longfellow's Translation, Hell • Dante Alighieri
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