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wassail Definition

was·sail (wäs′əl, was′-; --āl′)

noun

  1. a salutation formerly given in drinking the health of a person, as at a festivity
  2. the spiced ale or other liquor with which such healths were drunk
  3. a celebration with much drinking, esp. at Christmastime; carousal

Etymology: ME, earlier wæs hæil < ON ves heill, lit., be hale, be hearty (replacing OE wes hal, lit., be whole)

intransitive verb

  1. to drink wassails
  2. Brit. to go caroling from house to house at Christmastime

transitive verb

to drink to the health or prosperity of

wassail Related Forms

was′·sailer noun

wassail Synonyms

wassail

n.

  1. A celebration

    festivity, festival, carousal; see feast.

  2. A toast

    salute, salutation, cheers, pledge, acknowledgment; see also toast 1.

wassail Usage Examples

Object

tree: Wassailing the apple tree is a traditional ritual carried out on Twelfth Night.

Modifies a noun

  • bowl: The origins of the tradition of using a wassail bowl are thought to stem from celebrations of the solstice by Celtic people.
  • song: Wassail Song: Traditional English ( 8 ) 27.

Noun used with modifier

word: The word wassail is from the Anglo Saxon word " wes hal " meaning " good health " or " be whole " .

Browse dictionary entries near wassail

  1. ‹ waspy
  2. ‹ waspish
  3. ‹ wasp waist
  4. ‹ wasp
  5. ‹ wasn't
  6. ‹ washy
  7. ‹ washwoman
  8. ‹ washtub
  9. ‹ washstand
  10. ‹ washroom
  1. Wassermann ›
  2. wast ›
  3. wastage ›
  4. waste ›
  5. waste pipe ›
  6. waste time ›
  7. wastebasket ›
  8. wasted ›
  9. wasteful ›
  10. wastefully ›