church-ale

English

Alternative forms

• churchale
• church ale

Etymology

From Middle English cherche ale.

Noun

church-ale (countable and uncountable, plural church-ales)

1. (historical) A church or parish festival (as in commemoration of the dedication of a church), at which much ale was drunk.
   • 1683, John Keble, An Assistance to Justices of the Peace […] :

     If many be at an Alehouse , a Christmaſſe dinner, or Churchale, and ( without any intention of an Affray) they ſodainly fall together by the eares […]

2. The strong ale brewed for this purpose.

References

• “church-ale”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.