wassail

[ wos-uhl, -eyl, was-, wo-seyl ]

noun

1. 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.
2. a festivity or revel with drinking of healths.
3. liquor for drinking and wishing health to others on festive occasions, especially spiced ale, as on Christmas Eve and Twelfth-night.
4. Archaic. a song sung in wassailing.

verb (used without object)

1. to revel with drinking.

verb (used with object)

1. to drink to the health or success of; toast.

wassail

/ ˈwɒseɪl /

noun

1. (formerly) a toast or salutation made to a person at festivities
2. a festivity when much drinking takes place
3. alcoholic drink drunk at such a festivity, esp spiced beer or mulled wine
4. the singing of Christmas carols, going from house to house
5. archaic.
   a drinking song

verb

1. to drink the health of (a person) at a wassail
2. intr to go from house to house singing carols at Christmas

Derived Forms

• ˈwassailer, noun

Other Words From

• wassail·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wassail¹

1175–1225; Middle English was-hail, equivalent to was be ( Old English wæs, variant of wes, imperative of wesan to be; akin to was ) + hail hale ¹, in good health (< Old Norse heill hale); replacing Old English wæs hāl be hale or whole. See whole, heal

Word History and Origins

Origin of wassail¹

C13: from Old Norse ves heill be in good health; related to Old English wes hāl; see hale ¹

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.

From Project Gutenberg

I have already arranged with an artist to do some pictures, and I remember I particularly ordered a robin and a wassail.

From Project Gutenberg

The wassail bowl originally meant a health-drinking vessel, and is of very ancient origin.

From Project Gutenberg

Deep into the night the drunken revelry resounded over the lake, until Father Olmedo remonstrated against such godless wassail.

From Project Gutenberg

And let the Wassail Cup abound, Whene'er the mummers' time comes round.

From Project Gutenberg