Where does “wassail” come from?
Wassail comes from Old Norse ves heill, from Old Norse vesa and hailaz in Proto-Germanic meaning whole or uninjured, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁és- meaning to be.
wassail (English): A toast to health, usually on a festive occasion;...
Definitions
- A toast to health, usually on a festive occasion;...
Ancestry of “wassail”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | ves heill | be healthy! |
| 2 | Old Norse | vesa | Archaic form of vera; to be |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | *wesaną | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | wes- | to dress, clothe |
Words derived from “wassail”