Obs. exc. dial. Also 5–6 arvell, 7 arvall. [App. adopted from Norse: cf. Da. arveöl, ON. erfi-öl (Vigfusson), OSw. arföl (Ihre), f. arf, arv, ON. arfr (OE. erfe) inheritance + öl ale, a banquet: see ALE 3. Cf. also ON. erfi a wake, a funeral feast = erfi-öl.] A funeral feast.
1459. MS. Reg. Test. Ebor., IV. 249 b. [John Alanson leaues an ox] ‘ad distrib. inter propinquos et amicos meos, scilicet ad meum arvell.’
1588. Wills & Inv. Durh. (1860), 181/2. That secke … which was drouncke at the arvell.
1623. MS. Richmond Wills Carthorpe, Her arvall, or funerall dinner.
1702. Thoresby, Diary, I. 362. The following arvill, or treat, of cold posset, stewed prunes, cake, and cheese, prepared for the company.
1860. Mrs. Gaskell, C. Brontë, 17. The old custom of ‘arvills,’ or funeral feasts.
1880. Yorksh. Archæol. Jrnl., XXII. 290. The arval was held at the little village inn.
2. attrib., as in arval-bread, -dinner, etc.
1567. MS. Durham Registry, For his arvell supper.
1691. Ray, N. Countr. Words, 139. Arvel-Bread, Silicernium.
1778–80. W. Hutchinson, Northbld., II. 20, in Brand’s Pop. Antiq. (Hazl.), II. 193. On the decease of any person possessed of valuable effects, the friends and neighbours of the Family are invited to dinner on the Day of Interment, which is called the Arthel or Arvel-dinner.
1807. Douce, Illust. Shaks., II. 203 (Jam.). In the North this feast is called an arval or arvil-supper; and the loaves that are sometimes distributed among the poor, arval-bread.
1875. Whitby Gloss., Averill-breead, funeral loaves, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and raisins.
3. ? Arval-bread.
1568. Wills & Inv. N. C. (1835), 294. A boxe of arvell xviijd.—Hony ijs.
