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Hansel

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A gift or bribe, the first money received in a day. Hence Hansel Monday, the first Monday of the year. To “hansel our swords” is to use them for the first time. In Norfolk we hear of hanselling a coati.e. wearing it for the first time. Lemon tells us that superstitious people will spit on the first money taken at market for luck, and Misson says, “Ils le baisent en le recevant, craschent dessus, et le mettent dans une poche apart.” (Travels in England, p. 192.)

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Hangman’s Acre, Gains, and Gain’s Alley (London)
Hangman’s Wages
Hangmen and Executioners
Hankey Pankey
Hanoverian Shield
Hans von Rippach [rip-pak]
Hansards
Hanse Towns
Hanseatic League
Hansel
Hansel Monday
Hansom (A)
Hapmouche
Happy Arabia
Happy Expression (A)
Happy-go-lucky (A)
Happy Valley
Happy as a Clam at High Tide
Happy as a King
Happy the People whose Annals are Tiresome