wassail

[ wos-uhl, -eyl, was-, wo-seyl ]

noun

1. a salutation wishing health to a person, used in England in early times when presenting a cup of drink or when drinking to the person.
2. a festivity or revel with drinking of healths.
3. liquor for drinking and wishing health to others on festive occasions, especially spiced ale, as on Christmas Eve and Twelfth-night.
4. Archaic. a song sung in wassailing.

verb (used without object)

1. to revel with drinking.

verb (used with object)

1. to drink to the health or success of; toast.

wassail

/ ˈwɒseɪl /

noun

1. (formerly) a toast or salutation made to a person at festivities
2. a festivity when much drinking takes place
3. alcoholic drink drunk at such a festivity, esp spiced beer or mulled wine
4. the singing of Christmas carols, going from house to house
5. archaic.
   a drinking song

verb

1. to drink the health of (a person) at a wassail
2. intr to go from house to house singing carols at Christmas

Derived Forms

• ˈwassailer, noun

Other Words From

• wassail·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wassail¹

1175–1225; Middle English was-hail, equivalent to was be ( Old English wæs, variant of wes, imperative of wesan to be; akin to was ) + hail hale ¹, in good health (< Old Norse heill hale); replacing Old English wæs hāl be hale or whole. See whole, heal

Word History and Origins

Origin of wassail¹

C13: from Old Norse ves heill be in good health; related to Old English wes hāl; see hale ¹

Example Sentences

In apple-growing regions like Kent and Devonshire, farmers would additionally toast or salute the apple tree and pour wassail over its roots in preparation for a good harvest year.

From Salon

The park will offer pumpkin spice milkshakes and cinnamon rolls, pumpkin praline funnel cake, hot wassail, harvest kettle corn, fried green tomatoes, sweet potato casserole and barbecue.

From Fox News

The meats were followed by flaming puddings and bowls of wassail, chestnuts, and apples.

From Literature

In January I attend one of Kent’s growing number of wassails, a half-pagan, half-Christian ceremony in which an apple tree is fed a tribute of cider to encourage a good harvest later in the year.

From The Guardian

Many classic Christmas trappings, from caroling to mince pie and wassail, have been part of English tradition for centuries.

From Seattle Times