f. striking a bargain, the joining hands; þá ferr handfestr um allt skipit þeirra í millum at þessu heiti, Bs. i. 421; áttu þeir at handfesti ok vápna-tak at þessu heiti, Fms. viii. 55; tóku þeir heit sitt með h., v. 138; sira Oddr tók þá ok þetta skilorð með h., Bs. i. 746; við vitni ok h., Fb. i. 366: it answers to the signing one’s name in mod. law. ☞ In the early Dan. and Swed. laws the stipulation to be given by the king at his coronation was called haand-fæstning. In Scotland marriage used often to be preceded by a preliminary union called hand-fasting, see Jamieson s. v.

II. a rope by which to haul oneself up, Jm. 1.