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.
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.
Was"sail (?), n. [AS. wes hāl (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 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.
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