ˈhand-sale
[f. hand n. + sale.]
See quots. (In some uses a corruption or conjectural explanation of auncel.)
| 1607–1691 [see auncel]. 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 448 (Seager) Anciently among all the northern nations shaking of hands was held necessary to bind the bargain: a custom which we still retain in many verbal contracts: a sale thus made was called handsale (venditio per mutuam manuum complexionem). 1888 Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk., Handsale weight, any article purchased by poising it in the hand so as to judge of the weight without actual weighing, is called handsale weight. |