archaic <古>
mass noun
1- spiced ale or mulled wine drunk during celebrations for Twelfth Night and Christmas Eve（主显节前夕和圣诞节前夕祝酒时用的）加香料的淡啤酒;加糖和香料的温热葡萄酒。
1.1
- lively and noisy festivities involving the drinking of plentiful amounts of alcohol; revelry热闹酒宴; 狂欢。
1
- no obj. drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way痛饮。
1.1
- with obj. historical (in SW England) drink to (fruit trees, typically apple trees) in a custom intended to ensure a fruitful crop〈史〉（英格兰西南部）（为确保好收成而）向（果树, 尤指苹果树）祝酒。
2
- go from house to house at Christmas singing carols挨家挨户唱圣诞节颂歌：
here we go a-wassailing.
我们这就去挨家挨户唱圣诞节颂歌。
派生词
wassailer
noun词源
Middle English wæs hæil 'be in (good) health!'： from Old Norse ves heill （compare with HAIL2）. The drinking formula wassail （and the reply drinkhail'drink good health'） were probably introduced by Danish-speaking inhabitants of England， and then spread， so that by the 12th cent. the usage was considered by the Normans to be characteristic of Englishmen.