Adjacent Words

Ale definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ALE, n.
1. A liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation. It differs from beer, in having a smaller proportion of hops. It is of different sorts, chiefly pale and brown; the first made from malt slightly dried; the second, from malt more considerably dried or roasted. Ale was the common drink of the ancient inhabitants of Europe. It is usually made with barley; but sometimes with wheat, rye, millet, oats, etc.
2. A merry meeting in English country places, so called from the liquor drank.
Medicated Ales are those which are prepared for medicinal purposes, by an infusion of herbs during fermentation.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast; in some of the United States an ale is (by law) a brew of more than 4% alcohol by volume

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ealu; akin to Old Norse ?l ale, Lithuanian alus Date: before 12th century 1. an alcoholic beverage brewed especially by rapid fermentation from an infusion of malt with the addition of hops 2. an English country festival at which ale is the principal beverage

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. beer (usu. as a trade word). Etymology: OE alu, = ON öl

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ale Ale ([=a]l), n. [AS. ealu, akin to Icel., Sw., and Dan. ["o]l, Lith. alus a kind of beer, OSlav. ol[u^] 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. ``At wakes and ales.'' --B. Jonson.``On ember eves and holy ales.'' --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Beer Beer, n. [OE. beor, ber, AS. be['o]r; akin to Fries. biar, Icel. bj?rr, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E. brew. [root]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. ``To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.'' --Shak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(ales) Ale is a kind of strong beer. ...our selection of ales and spirits. N-MASS see also ginger ale, real ale

Dictionary of Ro

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