The Collaborative International Dictionary
Wassail \Was"sail\, n. [AS. wes h[=a]l (or an equivalent form in another dialect) be in health, which was the form of drinking a health. The form wes is imperative. See Was, and Whole.]
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An ancient expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to some one.
Geoffrey of Monmouth relates, on the authority of Walter Calenius, that this lady [Rowena], the daughter of Hengist, knelt down on the approach of the king, and, presenting him with a cup of wine, exclaimed, Lord king w[ae]s heil, that is, literally, Health be to you.
--N. Drake. -
An occasion on which such good wishes are expressed in drinking; a drinking bout; a carouse. ``In merry wassail he . . . peals his loud song.''
--Sir W. Scott.The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, Keeps wassail.
--Shak.The victors abandoned themselves to feasting and wassail.
--Prescott. -
The liquor used for a wassail; esp., 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.; -- called also lamb's wool.
A jolly wassail bowl, A wassail of good ale.
--Old Song. -
A festive or drinking song or glee. [Obs.]
Have you done your wassail! 'T is a handsome, drowsy ditty, I'll assure you.
--Beau. & Fl.
Usage examples of "lamb's wool".
His theory on the size of shoes was mistaken and it had proved to be so within a very short space of time, the evening being uncommonly warm, while his only clean, wearable stockings were made not of silk but of lamb's wool.
Iamskoy wore the same wolf-trimmed coat and boots as when Arkady had visited the dacha before, as well as a lamb's wool cap on his bare skull and leather gloves that he pulled on while he talked.
The greatsword at his waist was shorter than most swords given that name, but it was polished to a high sheen and couched in the best lamb's wool.
Ark Veinsplitter had offered gifts to Raif: mitts made from flying squirrel pelts that had the softest, richest fur Raif had ever touched, a hood of wolverine fur that shed even breath ice with just a shrug, and a padded inner coat that was woven from lamb's wool and stuffed with shredded silk.
I'm wearing a lamb's wool topcoat, a wool jacket with wool flannel trousers, a cotton shirt, a cashmere V‑.
Foot soldiers wore their hair in a tight folded queue, wrapped round a core of lamb's wool and powdered with rice flour-which, in this climate, rapidly turned to paste as the flour mixed with sweat.