housel

[ hou-zuhl ]

noun

1. the Eucharist.
2. the act of administering or receiving the Eucharist.

verb (used with object)

, hou·seled, hou·sel·ing or (especially British) hou·selled, hou·sel·ling.

1. to administer the Eucharist to.

housel

/ ˈhaʊzəl /

noun

1. a medieval name for Eucharist

verb

1. tr to give the Eucharist to (someone)

Word History and Origins

Origin of housel¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; (noun) Old English hūsl “the Eucharist,” probably originally, “offering”; cognate with Old Norse hūsl, Gothic hunsl “sacrifice, offering”

Word History and Origins

Origin of housel¹

Old English hūsl; related to Gothic hunsl sacrifice, Old Norse hūsl

Example Sentences

And in a ladychapel another taking housel all to his own cheek.

From Project Gutenberg

For they shrive them and housel them evermore once or twice in the week.

From Project Gutenberg

As he arose from the slab, a bird in housel for the night flew out of the box.

From Project Gutenberg

Two clerics in surplice hold the housel cloth to catch any of the sacred elements which might accidentally fall.

From Project Gutenberg

Let every Christian man strictly keep his Christianity, and go frequently to shrift and housel.

From Project Gutenberg