wassail

American  

[wos-uhl, -eyl, was-, wo-seyl] / ˈwɒs əl, -eɪl, ˈwæs-, wɒˈseɪl /

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.

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verb (used without object)

1. to revel with drinking.

verb (used with object)

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

wassail British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to drink the health of (a person) at a wassail

2. (intr) to go from house to house singing carols at Christmas

Other Word Forms

• wassailer noun

Etymology

Origin of wassail

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

Example Sentences

In apple-growing regions like Kent and Devonshire, farmers would additionally toast or salute the apple tree and pour wassail over its roots in preparation for a good harvest year.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2021

I never had a clear idea of what a wassail was.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 18, 2018

The scent of cinnamon and clove permeated the building, as members brewed traditional wassail for the occasion.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2017

You spoiled them, and they came to expect your Christmas exertions as a tradition that spared them the effort of providing their own ham and wassail bowl.

From Slate • Dec. 31, 2014

The meats were followed by flaming puddings and bowls of wassail, chestnuts, and apples.

From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli