Definition of "wassail"

wassail

/ˈwɑseɪl/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural wassails
1. A toast to health, usually on a festive occasion.
2. The beverage served during a wassail, especially one made of ale or wine flavoured with spices, sugar, roasted apples, etc.
3. Revelry.
  Quotations
  In merry wassail he […] peals his loud song.
  1813, Walter Scott, “(please specify the page)”, in Rokeby; a Poem, Edinburgh: […] [F]or John Ballantyne and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; by James Ballantyne and Co., […]
  The victors abandoned themselves to feasting and wassail.
  1856-1858, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Phillip II
  A blinding light against a garish blue sky made vision difficult, thanks to the previous night's wassail.
  1980, Ian Chappell, Chappelli has the last laugh, page 39
4. A festive or drinking song or glee.
  Quotations
  Have you done your wassail? 'Tis a handsome, drowsy ditty, I'll assure you.
  1606, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “The Woman-Hater”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)
verb
third-person singular simple present wassails, present participle wassailing, simple past and past participle wassailed
1. (transitive) To toast, to drink to the health of another.
2. (intransitive) To drink wassail.
3. To go from house to house at Christmastime, singing carols.
  Quotations
  Schoolchildren around the globe have gleefully sung Torches at Christmastime for half a century. Many of those in Birmingham have wassailed the carol at the front door of a cosy Victorian house in Moseley, unaware that behind that front door lives its composer.
  2002 February 21, Christopher Morley, “Culture: Children carry a torch for carol king; John Joubert will be 75 next month”, in The Birmingham Post
  During the Christmas season, carolers traveled from house to house, bringing good wishes and carrying an empty bowl. The master of the house being wassailed was expected to fill the bowl with hot, spicy ale.
  2006, Ronald M. Clancy, Best-Loved Christmas Carols: The Stories Behind Twenty-Five Yuletide Favorites, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., published 2006, page 81
  "I wish someone would come to my house and wassail!" Jessica P. of Howland said.
  2010 December 26, Burton Cole, “Holiday mysteries to roast in your wassail”, in Tribune Chronicle

Definition of "wassail"

wassail

noun

Quotations

Quotations

verb

Quotations