church-ale

noun

: a festival formerly held in English country parishes at which ale was sold to raise money for church expenses and relief of the poor

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chirche ale, from chirche church + ale (festival)

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!