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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 67
journeyman
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OP
journeyman
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 67 |
This may be a bit off-topic (and off-language) but... does anybody know the correct way to spell an old english greeting? It sounds like "wess thuu hall" and my guess is "wes thu hal" but I really have no idea. I belive that it means "be you healthy" or something similar. Any takers?
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
I believe it comes from Middle(?) English wæs hæil: "wassail" but I can't remember the correct pronoun form in between. Surely jheem or Faldage or one of our other resident scholars will give you the real scoop. Been too long since I studied OE and ME.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475 |
I believe the standard spelling is: wæs ðú hál. The accents could optionally be macrons, indicating length.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475 |
Wassail is thought to be from Old Norse ves heill similar in meaning to the Old English and definitely cognate.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475 |
wæs ~ wes ~ béo
Ah, me memory ain't what it used to be ...
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