wassail

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A toast to health, usually on a festive occasion.
2. (countable, uncountable)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.”

3. (countable, uncountable)Revelry.

   “In merry wassail he […] peals his loud song.”

   “The victors abandoned themselves to feasting and wassail.”

   “A blinding light against a garish blue sky made vision difficult, thanks to the previous night's wassail.”

   “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.”

4. (countable, uncountable)A festive or drinking song or glee.

   “Have you done your wassail? 'Tis a handsome, drowsy ditty, I'll assure you.”

verb

1. (transitive)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. (intransitive)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.”

   “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.”

   “"I wish someone would come to my house and wassail!" Jessica P. of Howland said.”