Etymology From Middle English wassail, from Old Norse ves heill (“be healthy!”), from the imperative of vesa (“to be”) + heill (“healthy”). The earliest documented use of the term is from the first part of the 12th century CE, in Geoffroy of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae (see page's citations).
1
A toast to health, usually on a festive occasion.
2
The beverage served during a wassail, especially one made of ale or wine flavoured with spices, sugar, roasted apples, etc.
Add ſugar, nutmeg and ginger, / VVith ſtore of ale too; / And thus ye muſt doe / To make the vvaſſaile a ſvvinger.1648, Robert Herrick, “Twelfe Night, or King and Queene”, in Hesperides: Or, The Works both Humane & Divine […], London: […] John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be sold by Tho[mas] Hunt, […], →OCLC, page 377:
3
Revelry.
In merry wassail he […] peals his loud song.1813, Walter Scott, “(please specify the page)”, in Rokeby; a Poem, Edinburgh: […] [F]or John Ballantyne and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; by James Ballantyne and Co., […], →OCLC:
The victors abandoned themselves to feasting and wassail.1855–1858, William H[ickling] Prescott, History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson, and Company, →OCLC:
2 more examples
A blinding light against a garish blue sky made vision difficult, thanks to the previous night's wassail.1980, Ian Chappell, Chappelli has the Last Laugh, page 39:
Then as dawn brightened and the day broke Grendel's powers of destruction were plain: their wassail was over, they wept to heaven and mourned under morning.1999, Seamus Heaney, Beowulf, London: Faber and Faber, page 6:
4
A festive or drinking song or glee.
Have you done your wassail? 'Tis a handsome, drowsy ditty, I'll assure you.1606, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “The Woman-Hater”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
wassail
verb
Etymology From Middle English wassail, from Old Norse ves heill (“be healthy!”), from the imperative of vesa (“to be”) + heill (“healthy”). The earliest documented use of the term is from the first part of the 12th century CE, in Geoffroy of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae (see page's citations).
1
To toast, to drink to the health of another.
The next morning he much regretted the gusto with which he had wassailed the night before.
2
To drink wassail.
3
To go from house to house at Christmastime, singing carols.
Schoolchildren around the globe have gleefully sung Torches at Christmastime for half a century. Many of those in Birmingham have wassailed the carol at the front door of a cosy Victorian house in Moseley, unaware that behind that front door lives its composer.2002 February 21, Christopher Morley, “Culture: Children carry a torch for carol king; John Joubert will be 75 next month”, in The Birmingham Post:
During the Christmas season, carolers traveled from house to house, bringing good wishes and carrying an empty bowl. The master of the house being wassailed was expected to fill the bowl with hot, spicy ale.2006, Ronald M. Clancy, Best-Loved Christmas Carols: The Stories Behind Twenty-Five Yuletide Favorites, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., published 2006, →ISBN, page 81:
1 more example
"I wish someone would come to my house and wassail!" Jessica P. of Howland said.2010 December 26, Burton Cole, “Holiday mysteries to roast in your wassail”, in Tribune Chronicle: