Handsale

Anciently, among all the northern nations, shaking of hands wais held necessary to bind a bargain, — a custom still retained in verbal contracts: a sale thus made was called handsale, vendltio per mutuant tnanunm complexioncm. In pi’oeess of time the same word was used to signify the price or earnest which was given immediately after the shaking of bands, or ^nstead thereof. In some parts of the country it is the execution of a contract of sale.

See 2 Bla. Com. 448; Heinecclus, de Antique Jure Oermanico, lib. 2, § 335; Toullier, liv. 3, t 3, c. 2, n. 33; Earnest.