English Dictionary: ale | by the DICT Development Group |
3 results for ale | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Ale \Ale\ ([amac]l), n. [AS. ealu, akin to Icel., Sw., and Dan. [94]l, Lith. alus a kind of beer, OSlav. ol[ucr] beer. Cf. Ir. ol drink, drinking.] 1. An intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops. Note: 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. [bd]At wakes and ales.[b8] --B. Jonson.[bd]On ember eves and holy ales.[b8] --Shak. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Beer \Beer\, n. [OE. beor, ber, AS. be[a2]r; akin to Fries. biar, Icel. bj[?]rr, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E. brew. [fb]93, See {Brew}.] 1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but commonly from barley malt, with hops or some other substance to impart a bitter flavor. Note: Beer has different names, as {small beer}, {ale}, {porter}, {brown stout}, {lager beer}, according to its strength, or other qualities. See {Ale}. 2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc. {Small beer}, weak beer; (fig.) insignificant matters. [bd]To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.[b8] --Shak. |