wassail Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a punch made of sweetened ale or wine heated with spices and roasted apples; especially at Christmas
  2. verb celebrate noisily, often indulging in drinking; engage in uproarious festivities
    jollify; make whoopie; make merry; revel; whoop it up; racket; make happy.
    • The members of the wedding party made merry all night
    • Let's whoop it up--the boss is gone!
  3. verb propose a toast to
    toast; drink; pledge; salute.
    • Let us toast the birthday girl!
    • Let's drink to the New Year

WordNet

Was"sail noun
Etymology
AS. wes hal (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.
Definitions
  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 wæs 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.
Was"sail adjective
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to wassail, or to a wassail; convivial; as, a wassail bowl. "Awassail candle, my lord, all tallow." Shak.
Was"sail intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To hold a wassail; to carouse.
    Spending all the day, and good part of the night, in dancing, caroling, and wassailing. Sir P. Sidney.

Webster 1913