Noun
a punch made of sweetened ale or wine heated with spices and roasted apples; especially at Christmas

Verb
propose a toast to; "Let us toast the birthday girl!"; "Let''s drink to the New Year"

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!"

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n.
An ancient expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to some one.

n.
An occasion on which such good wishes are expressed in drinking; a drinking bout; a carouse.

n.
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.

n.
A festive or drinking song or glee.

a.
Of or pertaining to wassail, or to a wassail; convivial; as, a wassail bowl.

v. i.
To hold a wassail; to carouse.

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Wassail

Was"sail , n. [AS. wes h'bel (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'91s heil, that is, literally, Health be to you.

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.

The victors abandoned themselves to feasting and wassail.

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.

4. A festive or drinking song or glee. [Obs.]

Have you done your wassail! 'T is a handsome, drowsy ditty, I'll assure you.

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.

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.

An ancient expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to some one.

Of or pertaining to wassail, or to a wassail; convivial; as, a wassail bowl.

To hold a wassail; to carouse.