WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Ale
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [AS. ealu, akin to Icel., Sw., and Dan. ?l, Lith. alus a kind of beer, OSlav. ol beer. Cf. Ir. ol drink, drinking.]
Definition : 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.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913