Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “wassailer” come from?

wassailer (English) comes from English wassail, from Old Norse ves heill, from Old Norse vesa, from Proto-Germanic *wesaną, from Proto-Indo-European wes- — to dress, clothe.

wassailer (English): One who wassails

Definitions

  1. One who wassails

Ancestry of “wassailer”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwassailA toast to health, usually on a festive occasion;...
2Old Norseves heillbe healthy!
3Old NorsevesaArchaic form of vera; to be
4Proto-Germanic*wesaną—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwes-to dress, clothe
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wes- →