Be Well

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Wassail is both a hearty beverage and a best wish for the recipient---Waes haeil!  Be Well.

Word of the Day for Friday, October 8, 2010



wassail \WAH-sul; wah-SAYL\, noun:


1. An expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to someone.


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


3. The liquor used for a wassail; especially, 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.


adjective:


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

transitive verb:


1. To drink to the health of; a toast.
 Intransitive verb:


1. To drink a wassail.


Christmas often means plum pudding, fruitcake, roast goose and wassail.


-- Florence Fabricant, "Recipes to Summon the Holiday Spirit", New York Times, December 21, 1988


But have you ever tried to spear a buffalo after a hard night at theold wassail bowl?


-- Gore Vidal, The Smithsonian Institution


Wassail is from the Middle English expression of festive benevolence, wæs hæil!, be well!, from Old Norse ves heill, be (ves) well (heill).