† ˈdrink-hail Obs. exc. Hist.
[Early ME. drinc hæil, drinc hail, f. imperative of drink v. + hail a. = ON. heill: see wassail. The earliest known occurrence is in Geoffrey of Monmouth vi. xii (c 1140). The form hail indicates that these phrases are of Norse, not OE. origin.]
The customary courteous reply to a pledge in drinking in early English times. The cup was offered with the salutation wæs hail ‘health or good luck to you’ (see wassail), to which the reply was drinc hail, ‘drink good health or good luck’.
| c 1205 Lay. 14332 Þat freond sæiðe to freonde..Leofue freond wæs hail. Þe oðer sæið drinc hail. 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 118 With a coppe of gold, fol of wyn..A kne to þe kyng heo [Rowena] seyde, ‘lord kyng wasseyl’..Drinkhayl, quoth this kyng agen, & bed hire drinke anon. 1350–70 Eulog. Hist. (1863) III. v. cxxv. 110 More Saxonico salutavit, et ait: Wassayl..Rex dedit responsum: Drinkhayle, et monachus læto vultu ciphum hausit. 14.. How Good Wyf tauȝte Douȝtir (Trin. MS.) in Babees Bk. 44 Syt nat vp long At euyn As A gase with the cuppe To sey wessayle, and drynke heylle. [1848 Lytton Harold xi. xii, Leofwine..rose to propose the drink-hæl.] |