handgift
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English *handgift, from Old English handgift (“a gift given by hand; a marriage gift”), equivalent to hand + gift. Compare Dutch handgift, Middle High German hantgift (“handgift”).
Noun edit
handgift (plural handgifts)
- A gift given directly (i.e. by hand), usually to a newly wedded couple; a wedding gift
- 1993, Iolo (Goch), Iolo Goch: Poems - Page 42:
- Thanks for a Knife Llywelyn, eagle of fine men, fierce in battle, son of the tawny grey man, prince and foster-son of praise, refined, proud, virtuous hawk, is there any better weapon, good is the handgift, than the one you gave me, renowned gift?
- 1994, Karen Harper, The Wings of Morning - Page 103:
- Would it not be best to just let life go by now, to treasure her friends and use her handgifts to help others? To become closer to some, and especially, in honor of the only man she would ever love, become closer to his parents?
- 2011, Wolfgang Faber, Brigitta Lurger, Acquisition and Loss of Ownership of Goods - Page 594:
- [...] Belgian law is rather reluctant to characterise such cases as a handgift, but it is prepared to accept a valid gift in the form of a so-called “indirect gift”.