handfast

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Archaic A handclasp used to signify a pledge, such as a contract or marriage.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To take or hold with the hand; hold securely or firmly; grasp.
2. To join together by or as if by the clasping of hands; make fast; bind; specifically, to betroth.
3. In some parts of Scotland, formerly, to marry provisionally by the ceremony of joining hands. Handfasting was a simple contract or agreement under which cohabitation was permitted for a year, at the end of which time the contract could either be dissolved or made permanent by formal marriage. Such marriages, at first probably not intended to be temporary, are supposed to have originated in Scotland from a scarcity of clergy, and have existed at times in other countries.
4. Having a close hand; close-fisted.
5. Bound by pledge, promise, or contract; especially, betrothed, or united as if by betrothal.
6. In Scotland, formerly, joined in provisional wedlock.
7. n. Grip; grasp; hold.
8. n. Custody; power of confining or keeping; a holding on security or bail.
9. n. A pledge, promise, or contract; especially, betrothal.

Wiktionary

1. n. obsolete A hold, grasp; custody, power of confining or keeping.
2. n. obsolete A contract, agreement, covenant ; specifically betrothal, espousal.
3. v. transitive To pledge; to bind
4. v. transitive, Wicca To betroth by joining hands, in order to allow cohabitation before the celebration of marriage; to marry provisionally.
5. adj. obsolete Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.
6. adj. rare Strong; steadfast.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. obsolete Hold; grasp.
2. n. obsolete Custody; power of confining or keeping.
3. n. obsolete A contract; specifically, an espousal.
4. adj. obsolete Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.
5. v. obsolete To pledge; to bind.
6. v. obsolete To betroth by joining hands, in order to permit cohabitation, before the formal celebration of marriage; in some parts of Scotland it was in effect to marry provisionally, permitting cohabitation for a year, after which the marriage could be formalized or dissolved.
7. adj. rare Strong; steadfast.