Arval

noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A funeral feast or wake at which bread and ale was served, traditional in Scotland, the North of England, and among the Norse. Northern-England, Scotland, archaic

    "It was customary in the north to have an arval or funeral dinner after an interment."

  2. 2
    The ale served at such a wake, the drinking of which was a ritually significant act in Norse culture. historical, rare

    "[…] Then quoth Hamtheow, etc.: 'We shall never come back to our mother [when we have slain the King of Goths]. Thou shalt drink the arval for us all together, for Swanhild and thy sons.'"

  3. 3
    The money given to hunters, at the death of a fox, in order to buy ale.

Etymology

From Middle English arvell, from Old Norse erfiǫl (“a funeral feast”), from arfr (“inheritance”) + öl (“ale”). Cognate with Danish arveøl (“a wake, funeral feast”). More at erf, ale.

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