Ale
Ale (āl) , noun
[Anglo-Saxon ealu, akin to Icelandic, Swedish, and Danish ol, Lithuanian alus a kind of beer, OSlav. olu beer. Compare Ir. ol drink, drinking.]
1.
An intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops.
The word ale, in England and the United States, usually designates a heavier kind of fermented liquor, and the word beer a lighter kind. The word beer is also in common use as the generic name for all malt liquors.
2.
A festival in English country places, so called from the liquor drunk.
At wakes and ales.
On ember eves and holy ales.