What does wassail mean?
Wassail is a chiefly British word associated with festive drinking, good wishes, and Christmas tradition. As a noun, it can mean either a celebration in which people drink to one another's health or, traditionally, a hot spiced alcoholic drink served during such a celebration. As a verb, “to wassail” means to drink a toast to someone's health, though it is now largely literary or historical. The word appeared in Old English in a form expressing a wish for health and eventually became closely linked with communal drinking and Christmas observances. Modern uses are uncommon, but the expression preserves a vivid older custom in which drinking, song, ceremony, and goodwill were joined together. Its unusual spelling and pronunciation also make it memorable, while its associations with warmth, hospitality, and seasonal festivity give it a distinctly nostalgic tone.
A festive drinking celebration at which participants drink to one another's health, especially at Christmas; also, traditionally, a spiced alcoholic drink served during such a celebration.
"The neighbours shared a Christmas wassail around a warm hearth."
The celebration sense is now the most recognizable in literary and historical contexts, while the drink sense is especially associated with Christmas.
To drink to the health of someone or to celebrate with communal drinking.
"They wassailed their neighbours at midnight."
This use is archaic, poetic, or nostalgic and is much less common in everyday contemporary English.
The regular plural is possible but relatively uncommon because the noun now tends to occur in descriptions of ceremonial or historical festivities.
"The village was known for its Christmas wassails."
Say “wassail” and Christmas sounds like a toast, a hot drink, and a whole tradition.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does wassail come from?
The word comes through Middle English from Old English wæsseil, a term associated with drinking or making a toast to someone's health. Its Old English formation draws on elements meaning “to be” and “whole” or “healthy,” reflecting the wish for well-being expressed by the toast. Over time, the word developed associations with festive drinking celebrations and the spiced Christmas drink served at them.
Related word forms
How wassail is actually used
The word is chiefly British in modern use and has an archaic, ceremonial, or historical flavour. The noun now usually evokes Christmas tradition, while the verb is rare outside literary, historical, or nostalgic contexts.
Easily confused with wassail
Wassail concerns drinking to wishes of health, while assail means to attack or criticize forcefully.