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 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 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.