housel

See also: Housel

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhaʊzəl/
• Rhymes: -aʊzəl

Etymology 1

From Middle English housel, from Old English hūsl (“housel, Eucharist, the Host, a sacrifice”), from Proto-Germanic *hunslą (“sacrifice”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱwen- (“holy”). Cognate with Icelandic húsl (“housel”), Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌽𐍃𐌻 (hunsl, “sacrifice, offering”), Proto-Slavic *svętъ (“holy, sacred”) (OED).

The OED cites usage of the noun from the 10th to the 17th century. 19th century use is deliberately archaizing. The verb is attested from the 11th century, and in occasional usage persists into the 19th.

Noun

housel

1. (archaic) The Eucharist.
   • 1720, Elfric [i.e., Ælfric of Abingdon], John Johnson, “A.D. DCCCCLVII. Elfric’s Canons.”, in A Collection of All the Ecclesiastical Laws, Canons, Answers, Or Rescripts, with Other Memorials Concerning the Government, Discipline, and Worship of the Church of England, […], 1st part, London: […] Robert Knaplock […], and Samuel Ballard […], →OCLC:

     The Holy Houſel ought to be kept vvith great Diligence and not be permitted to be ſtale, but another be alvvays hallovved anevv for Sick Men in about a Seven-night, or Fortnight, ſo as that it may not be muſty at leaſt.

   • 1922 February, James Joyce, Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:

     She said that he had a fair sweet death through God His goodness with mass-priest to be shriven, holy housel and sick men’s oil to his limbs.

Etymology 2

From Middle English houselen, from Old English hūslian (“to administer the sacrament”), from Proto-Germanic *hunslōną (“to sacrifice, offer”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱwen- (“holy”). Cognate with Icelandic húsla (“to housel”), Old Swedish húsla (“to administer the Eucharist to”), Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌽𐍃𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (hunsljan, “to offer, sacrifice”).

Verb

housel (third-person singular simple present housels, present participle houseling or houselling, simple past and past participle houseled or houselled)

1. (transitive, archaic) To administer the Eucharist to.
2. (transitive, rare) To prepare for a journey.
   • 1750, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, Mr. Theobald (Lewis), The Works of Francis Beaumont, and Mr. John Fletcher:

     So housel all our hackneys that they may feel Compunction in their feet, and tire at Highgate.

Anagrams

• Houles

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English hūsl, hūsel, hūsul, from Proto-West Germanic *hunsl, from Proto-Germanic *hunslą.

Alternative forms

• hoosyl, hosel, hosil, hosill, hosol, housil, housul, housyl, housyll, howsel, howsell, howsill, husel, husell, husul

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhuːzəl/

Noun

housel (uncountable)

1. The bread and wine utilised at Holy Communion.
2. (rare) The partaking in or consumption of said bread and wine.
3. (rare) The ritual or ceremony of Holy Communion.
4. (rare) Participation or presence at Holy Communion.

Related terms

• houselen
• houselynge

Descendants

• English: housel (archaic)
• Scots: hoozle, ouzle (obsolete)

References

• “hǒusel, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-03-23.

Etymology 2

Verb

housel

1. Alternative form of houselen

Old French

Alternative forms

• huesel

Etymology

huese +‎ -el.

Noun

housel oblique singular, m (oblique plural houseaus or houseax or housiaus or housiax or housels, nominative singular houseaus or houseax or housiaus or housiax or housels, nominative plural housel)

1. small boot

Descendants

• Middle French: houseau, houseaul, housel
  • French: houseau
    • → English: huseau