Yule

views updated May 18 2018

Yule / yoōl/ • n. archaic term for Christmas. ORIGIN: Old English gēol(a) ‘Christmas Day’; compare with Old Norse jól, originally applied to a heathen festival lasting twelve days, later to Christmas.

Yule

views updated May 23 2018

Yule archaic term for Christmas. The name comes from Old English gēol(a) ‘Christmas Day’; compare with Old Norse jól, originally applied to a heathen festival lasting twelve days, later to Christmas.
Yule log a large log traditionally burnt in the hearth on Christmas Eve.
Yuletide the time of Yule, Christmas.

See also a green Yule makes a fat churchyard.

Yule

views updated Jun 08 2018

Yule Christmas. OE. ġēol, earlier ġeo(h)ol, ġeh(h)ol, also ġēola Christmas Day, (pl.) Christmastide, corr. to ON. jól pl. heathen feast lasting twelve days, (later) Christmas; rel. to OE. (Angl.) ġiuli December and January = ON. ýlir month beginning on the second day of the week falling within November 10–17, Goth. jiuleis in fruma jiuleis November; ult. orig. unkn.