church-ale

== English == === Alternative forms === churchale church ale === Etymology === From Middle English cherche ale. === Noun === church-ale (countable and uncountable, plural church-ales) (historical) A church or parish festival (as in commemoration of the dedication of a church), at which much ale was drunk. The strong ale brewed for this purpose. === References === “church-ale”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.