wassail
[ wos-uhl, -eyl, was-, wo-seyl ]
/ ˈwɒs əl, -eɪl, ˈwæs-, wɒˈseɪl /
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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.
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Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
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Origin of wassail
OTHER WORDS FROM wassail
was·sail·er, nounWords nearby wassail
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for wassail
British Dictionary definitions for wassail
wassail
/ (ˈwɒseɪl) /
noun
verb
to drink the health of (a person) at a wassail
(intr) to go from house to house singing carols at Christmas
Derived forms of wassail
wassailer, nounWord Origin for wassail
C13: from Old Norse ves heill be in good health; related to Old English wes hāl; see hale 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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