arval

Meaning

Noun

• A funeral feast or wake at which bread and ale was served, traditional in Scotland, the North of England, and among the Norse.
• The ale served at such a wake, the drinking of which was a ritually significant act in Norse culture.
• The money given to hunters, at the death of a fox, in order to buy ale.

Origin

• From Middle English arvell, from Old Norse erfiǫl ("a funeral feast"), from arfr + öl. Cognate with Danish arveøl ("a wake, funeral feast"). More at erf, ale.