'Wassail' definitions:

Definition of 'wassail'

(from WordNet)
noun
A punch made of sweetened ale or wine heated with spices and roasted apples; especially at Christmas
verb
Celebrate noisily, often indulging in drinking; engage in uproarious festivities; "The members of the wedding party made merry all night"; "Let's whoop it up--the boss is gone!" [syn: revel, racket, make whoopie, make merry, make happy, whoop it up, jollify, wassail]
verb
Propose a toast to; "Let us toast the birthday girl!"; "Let's drink to the New Year" [syn: toast, drink, pledge, salute, wassail]

Definition of 'Wassail'

From: GCIDE
  • Wassail \Was"sail\, v. i. To hold a wassail; to carouse. [1913 Webster]
  • Spending all the day, and good part of the night, in dancing, caroling, and wassailing. --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Wassail'

From: GCIDE
  • Wassail \Was"sail\, n. [AS. wes h[=a]l (or an equivalent form in another dialect) be in health, which was the form of drinking a health. The form wes is imperative. See Was, and Whole.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. An ancient expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to some one. [1913 Webster]
  • Geoffrey of Monmouth relates, on the authority of Walter Calenius, that this lady [Rowena], the daughter of Hengist, knelt down on the approach of the king, and, presenting him with a cup of wine, exclaimed, Lord king waes heil, that is, literally, Health be to you. --N. Drake. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. An occasion on which such good wishes are expressed in drinking; a drinking bout; a carouse. "In merry wassail he . . . peals his loud song." --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
  • The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, Keeps wassail. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • The victors abandoned themselves to feasting and wassail. --Prescott. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. The liquor used for a wassail; esp., a beverage formerly much used in England at Christmas and other festivals, made of ale (or wine) flavored with spices, sugar, toast, roasted apples, etc.; -- called also lamb's wool. [1913 Webster]
  • A jolly wassail bowl, A wassail of good ale. --Old Song. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. A festive or drinking song or glee. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Have you done your wassail! 'T is a handsome, drowsy ditty, I'll assure you. --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Wassail'

From: GCIDE
  • Wassail \Was"sail\, a. Of or pertaining to wassail, or to a wassail; convivial; as, a wassail bowl. "Awassail candle, my lord, all tallow." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Wassail bowl, a bowl in which wassail was mixed, and placed upon the table. "Spiced wassail bowl." --J. Fletcher. "When the cloth was removed, the butler brought in a huge silver vessel . . . Its appearance was hailed with acclamation, being the wassail bowl so renowned in Christmas festivity." --W. Irving.
  • Wassail cup, a cup from which wassail was drunk. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'wassail'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Wassail'