wassail

Meanings

Noun

• A toast to health, usually on a festive occasion.
• The beverage served during a wassail, especially one made of ale or wine flavoured with spices, sugar, roasted apples, etc.
• Revelry.
• A festive or drinking song or glee.

Verb

• To toast, to drink to the health of another.
• To drink wassail.
• To go from house to house at Christmastime, singing carols.

Related

Similar words

• carol

Origin

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