Wassail Definition

wŏsəl, wŏ-sāl
wassails
noun
wassails
A salutation formerly given in drinking the health of a person, as at a festivity.
Webster's New World
The spiced ale or other liquor with which such healths were drunk.
Webster's New World
A celebration with much drinking, esp. at Christmastime; carousal.
Webster's New World
A salutation or toast given in drinking someone's health or as an expression of goodwill at a festivity.
American Heritage
The drink used in such toasting, commonly ale or wine spiced with roasted apples and sugar.
American Heritage
verb
To drink to the health or prosperity of.
Webster's New World
To drink wassails.
Webster's New World
To go caroling from house to house at Christmastime.
Webster's New World
To drink to the health of; toast.
American Heritage
To engage in or drink a wassail.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Wassail

Noun

Singular:
wassail
Plural:
wassails

Origin of Wassail

  • Middle English contraction of wæshæil be healthy from Old Norse ves heill ves imperative sing. of vera to be wes-1 in Indo-European roots heill healthy kailo- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English contraction of wæshæil be healthy from Old Norse ves heill ves imperative sing. of vera to be wes-1 in Indo-European roots heill healthy kailo- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old Norse ves heill (“be healthy!"), from the imperative of vesa (“to be") + heill (“healthy"). The earliest documented use of the term is from 1275.

    From Wiktionary

Wassail Is Also Mentioned In

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to wassail using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

wassail