Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A funeral feast or wake at which bread and ale was served, traditional in Scotland, the North of England, and among the Norse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Northern-England, Scotland, archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The ale served at such a wake, the drinking of which was a ritually significant act in Norse culture.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The money given to hunters, at the death of a fox, in order to buy ale.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: Lancashire
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology tree Old Norse arfr Old Norse öl Old Norse erfiǫlder. Middle English arvellder. English arval From Middle English arvell, from Old Norse erfiǫl (“a funeral feast”), from arfr (“inheritance”) + öl (“ale”). Cognate with Danish arveøl (“a wake, funeral feast”). More at erf, ale.
