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wassail
was·sail / ˈwäsəl; -ˌsāl/ archaic • n. spiced ale or mulled wine drunk during celebrations for Twelfth Night and Christmas Eve. ∎ lively and noisy festivities involving the drinking of plentiful amounts of alcohol; revelry. • v. 1. [intr.] drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way. 2. go from house to house at Christmas singing carols: here we go a-wassailing. DERIVATIVES: was·sail·er n. ORIGIN: Middle English wæs hæil ‘be in (good) health!’: from Old Norse ves heill (compare with hail2 ). The drinking formula wassail (and the reply drinkhail ‘drink good health’) were probably introduced by Danish-speaking inhabitants of England, and then spread, so that by the 12th cent. the usage was considered by the Normans to be characteristic of Englishmen. |
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"wassail." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "wassail." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-wassail.html "wassail." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-wassail.html |
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wassail
wassail spiced ale or mulled wine drunk during celebrations for Twelfth Night and Christmas Eve; lively and noisy festivities involving the drinking of plentiful amounts of alcohol; revelry. The word comes from Middle English wæs hæil ‘be in (good) health’, from Old Norse ves heill. The drinking formula wassail (and the reply drinkhail ‘drink good health’) were probably introduced by Danish-speaking inhabitants of England, and then spread, so that by the 12th century the usage was considered by the Normans to be characteristic of Englishmen.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "wassail." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "wassail." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-wassail.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "wassail." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-wassail.html |
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wassail
wassail salutation used when presenting drink to a guest or drinking his health XIII (wæs hæil, wassayl, -ail; after XIV only hist. and dial.); liquor for drinking healths; carousal XVII. — ON. ves heill ‘be in good health’ (see HALE1).
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T. F. HOAD. "wassail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "wassail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-wassail.html T. F. HOAD. "wassail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-wassail.html |
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wassail
wassail
1. Spiced ale, drunk especially on festive occasions. 2. Salutation or toast drunk to a person's health. |
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DAVID A. BENDER. "wassail." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAVID A. BENDER. "wassail." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-wassail.html DAVID A. BENDER. "wassail." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-wassail.html |
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wassail
wassail. Old Eng. term for jovial and convivial song which often occurs in Christmas carols.
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MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "wassail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "wassail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-wassail.html MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "wassail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-wassail.html |
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wassail
wassail
•hangnail • treenail • hobnail
•doornail • toenail • thumbnail
•fingernail
•handrail, landrail
•cantrail • guard rail • Israel • contrail
•monorail • abseil • headsail • resale
•skysail • wassail • topsail • foresail
•wholesale • lugsail • wagtail
•tattletale • fantail • bangtail
•rat's-tail • telltale
•detail, retail
•pigtail • bristletail • pintail
•ringtail, springtail
•fishtail • ponytail • hightail • bobtail
•cocktail • cottontail
•foxtail, oxtail
•horsetail • folktale • swallowtail
•dovetail • shirt tail • travail
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"wassail." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "wassail." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-wassail.html "wassail." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-wassail.html |
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