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wassail
[ wos-uhl, -eyl, was-, wo-seyl ]
noun
- a salutation wishing health to a person, used in England in early times when presenting a cup of drink or when drinking to the person.
- a festivity or revel with drinking of healths.
- liquor for drinking and wishing health to others on festive occasions, especially spiced ale, as on Christmas Eve and Twelfth-night.
- Archaic. a song sung in wassailing.
verb (used without object)
- to revel with drinking.
verb (used with object)
- to drink to the health or success of; toast.
wassail
/ ˈwɒseɪl /
noun
- (formerly) a toast or salutation made to a person at festivities
- a festivity when much drinking takes place
- alcoholic drink drunk at such a festivity, esp spiced beer or mulled wine
- the singing of Christmas carols, going from house to house
- archaic.a drinking song
verb
- to drink the health of (a person) at a wassail
- intr to go from house to house singing carols at Christmas
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Derived Forms
- ˈwassailer, noun
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Other Words From
- wassail·er noun
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of wassail1
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Example Sentences
By the time he has gorged himself with wassail, as is his wont, he will not know an old Countess from a young one.
I have already arranged with an artist to do some pictures, and I remember I particularly ordered a robin and a wassail.
The wassail bowl originally meant a health-drinking vessel, and is of very ancient origin.
Deep into the night the drunken revelry resounded over the lake, until Father Olmedo remonstrated against such godless wassail.
And let the Wassail Cup abound, Whene'er the mummers' time comes round.
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