Wotd 10/8/10 - December 2003 (Duke, Viola)

Word of the Day Challenge 10/8/10
Word: Wassail: noun;
1. An expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to someone.
2. An occasion on which such good wishes are expressed in drinking; a drinking bout; a carouse.
3. The liquor used for a wassail; especially, a beverage formerly much used in England at Christmas and other festivals, made of ale (or wine) flavored with spices, sugar, toast, roasted apples, etc.

adjective:
1. Of or pertaining to wassail, or to a wassail; convivial; as, a wassail bowl.

transitive verb:
1. To drink to the health of; a toast.
intransitive verb:
1. To drink a wassail.

Timeline: December 2003 (Viola, Duke)


“This party sucks.” Viola held up her hands defensively when Duke turned his scorching glare onto her. “I’m serious! I’ve had nights at the cemetery livelier than this.”

Duke grunted and resumed staring at the somber people crowding his living room. He couldn’t remember why he’d thought a Network Christmas party was a good idea. It was supposed to be a “break” from Tracking, but that was all anyone had in common.

“That’s it!” Viola slipped off her chair and marched into the kitchen. After digging through his cabinets, she set a large pot on the stove, turned on the burner underneath it, then hopped up onto the counter.

“Get the hell off my countertop, Shortcake.”

“It’s not my fault you keep your spices up so high only a giant can reach them.”

Duke watched her dump a half-gallon of apple cider, a cheesecloth bundle of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, and several other items into the pot. It didn’t take long to figure out what she was doing. “Wassail? You think that’s going to fix the party?”

Viola grinned as she stirred the liquid. “It will once I get into your liquor cabinet. I’ve got plans for the eggnog, too.”