Carol vs. Wassail — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Carol and Wassail
ADVERTISEMENT
Definitions
Carol➦
A religious folk song or popular hymn, particularly one associated with Christmas
We sang carols by candlelight
Wassail➦
Wassail (, WOSS-əl, -ayl, most likely from Old Norse "ves heill") is a beverage made from hot mulled cider and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year.
Carol➦
Sing or say (something) happily
‘Goodbye,’ he carolled
She was cheerfully carolling the words of the song
Wassail➦
A salutation or toast given in drinking someone's health or as an expression of goodwill at a festivity.
Carol➦
The activity of singing Christmas carols
A night of Christmas carolling was traditional
We carolled from door to door
Wassail➦
The drink used in such toasting, commonly ale or wine spiced with roasted apples and sugar.
ADVERTISEMENT
Carol➦
A song of praise or joy, especially for Christmas.
Wassail➦
A festivity characterized by much drinking.
Carol➦
An old round dance often accompanied by singing.
Wassail➦
To drink to the health of; toast.
Carol➦
To sing in a loud, joyous manner.
Wassail➦
To engage in or drink a wassail.
ADVERTISEMENT
Carol➦
To go from house to house singing Christmas songs.
Wassail➦
A toast to health, usually on a festive occasion.
Carol➦
To celebrate in or as if in song
Caroling the victory.
Wassail➦
The beverage served during a wassail, especially one made of ale or wine flavoured with spices, sugar, roasted apples, etc.
Carol➦
To sing loudly and joyously.
Wassail➦
Revelry.
Carol➦
(historical) A round dance accompanied by singing.
Wassail➦
A festive or drinking song or glee.
Carol➦
A ballad or song of joy.
Wassail➦
(transitive) To toast, to drink to the health of another.
The next morning he much regretted the gusto with which he had wassailed the night before.
Carol➦
(specifically) A (usually traditional) religious or secular song sung at Christmastime.
They sang a Christmas carol.
Wassail➦
(intransitive) To drink wassail.
Carol➦
(architecture) carrel.
Wassail➦
To go from house to house at Christmastime, singing carols.
Carol➦
To participate in a carol (a round dance accompanied by singing).
Wassail➦
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 wæs heil, that is, literally, Health be to you.
Carol➦
(intransitive) To sing in a joyful manner.
Wassail➦
An occasion on which such good wishes are expressed in drinking; a drinking bout; a carouse.
The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse,Keeps wassail.
The victors abandoned themselves to feasting and wassail.
Carol➦
(intransitive) To sing carols; especially to sing Christmas carols in a group.
Wassail➦
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.
Carol➦
(transitive) To praise or celebrate in song.
Wassail➦
A festive or drinking song or glee.
Have you done your wassail! 'T is a handsome, drowsy ditty, I'll assure you.
Carol➦
(transitive) To sing (a song) cheerfully.
Wassail➦
Of or pertaining to wassail, or to a wassail; convivial; as, a wassail bowl.
Carol➦
A round dance.
Wassail➦
To hold a wassail; to carouse.
Spending all the day, and good part of the night, in dancing, caroling, and wassailing.
Carol➦
A song of joy, exultation, or mirth; a lay.
The costly feast, the carol, and the dance.
It was the carol of a bird.
Wassail➦
A punch made of sweetened ale or wine heated with spices and roasted apples; especially at Christmas
Carol➦
A song of praise of devotion; as, a Christmas or Easter carol.
Heard a carol, mournful, holy.
In the darkness sing your carol of high praise.
Wassail➦
Celebrate noisily, often indulging in drinking; engage in uproarious festivities;
The members of the wedding party made merry all night
Let's whoop it up--the boss is gone!
Carol➦
Joyful music, as of a song.
I heard the bells on Christmans DayTheir old, familiar carol play.
Wassail➦
Propose a toast to;
Let us toast the birthday girl!
Let's drink to the New Year
Carol➦
A small closet or inclosure built against a window on the inner side, to sit in for study. The word was used as late as the 16th century. The term carrel, of the same has largely superseded its use.
A bay window may thus be called a carol.
Carol➦
To praise or celebrate in song.
The Shepherds at their festivalsCarol her goodness.
Carol➦
To sing, especially with joyful notes.
Hovering swans . . . carol sounds harmonious.
Carol➦
To sing; esp. to sing joyfully; to warble.
And carol of love's high praise.
The gray linnets carol from the hill.
Carol➦
Joyful religious song celebrating the birth of Christ
Carol➦
A joyful song (usually celebrating the birth of Christ)
Carol➦
Sing carols;
They went caroling on Christmas Day
