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.

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

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).

wassail. Old Eng. term for jovial and convivial song which often occurs in Christmas carols.

wassail
1. Spiced ale, drunk especially on festive occasions.

2. Salutation or toast drunk to a person's health.