wassail Definition
was·sail (wäs′əl, was′-; --āl′)
noun
- a salutation formerly given in drinking the health of a person, as at a festivity
- the spiced ale or other liquor with which such healths were drunk
- 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
- to drink wassails
- 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 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
- Wassermann ›
- wast ›
- wastage ›
- waste ›
- waste pipe ›
- waste time ›
- wastebasket ›
- wasted ›
- wasteful ›
- wastefully ›

