church-ale

noun

A church or parish festival (as in commemoration of the dedication of a church), at which much ale was drunk.

OriginMiddle English cherche ale →
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Meanings

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

plural church-ales · alternative churchale · alternative church ale

  1. countablehistoricaluncountableA church or parish festival (as in commemoration of the dedication of a church), at which much ale was drunk.

    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[…]

    1683, John Keble, An Assistance to Justices of the Peace […]
  2. countableuncountableThe strong ale brewed for this purpose.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishcherche ale
  2. Englishchurch-ale

From Middle English cherche ale.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

church-ale. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/church-ale

MLA

“church-ale.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/church-ale. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “church-ale,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/church-ale.

Source: church-ale on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.