handsale

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.