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wassailmore about wassail

wassail

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  {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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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}.] 
  1.  An  ancient  expression  of  good  wishes  on  a  festive 
  occasion,  especially  in  drinking  to  some  one 
 
  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  w[ae]s  heil,  that  is 
  literally,  Health  be  to  you  --N.  Drake. 
 
  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. 
 
  The  king  doth  wake  to-night  and  takes  his  rouse, 
  Keeps  wassail.  --Shak. 
 
  The  victors  abandoned  themselves  to  feasting  and 
  wassail.  --Prescott. 
 
  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}. 
 
  A  jolly  wassail  bowl,  A  wassail  of  good  ale.  --Old 
  Song. 
 
  4.  A  festive  or  drinking  song  or  glee.  [Obs.] 
 
  Have  you  done  your  wassail!  'T  is  a  handsome,  drowsy 
  ditty,  I'll  assure  you  --Beau.  &  Fl 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Wassail  \Was"sail\,  v.  i. 
  To  hold  a  wassail;  to  carouse. 
 
  Spending  all  the  day  and  good  part  of  the  night,  in 
  dancing,  caroling,  and  wassailing.  --Sir  P. 
  Sidney. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  wassail 
  n  :  sweetened  ale  or  wine  heated  with  spices  and  roasted  apples; 
  especially  at  Christmas 
  v  1:  celebrate  noisily;  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}] 
  2:  sing  carols;  "They  went  caroling  on  Christmas  Day"  [syn:  {carol}]




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