HANDSALE

1 definition found

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  HANDSALE, contracts. Anciently, among all the northern nations, shaking of 
  hands was held necessary to bind a bargain; a custom still retained in 
  verbal contracts; a sale thus made was called handsale, venditio per mutuam 
  manum complexionem. In process of time the same word was used to signify the 
  price or earnest which was given immediately after the shaking of hands, or 
  instead thereof. In some parts of the country it is usual to speak of hand 


  money as the part of the consideration paid or to be paid at the execution 
  of a contract of sale. 2 Bl. Com. 448. Heineccius, de Antique Jure 
  Germanico, lib. 2, Sec. 335; Toull. Dr. Civ. Fr. liv. 3, t. 3, c. 2, n. 33.