Clerk-ale and Church-ale

Mr. Douce says the word “ale” is used in such composite words as bride-ale, clerk-ale, church-ale, lamb-ale, Midsummer-ale, Scot-ale, Whitsun-ale, etc., for revel or feast, ale being the chief liquor given.

“The multitude call Church-ale Sunday their revelyng day, which day is spent in bulbeatings, bearbeating, … dicying, … and drunkenness.”—W. Kethe (1570).

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.