subs. phr. (old).—A wedding feast: see ALE.

1

  1587.  W. HARRISON, The Description of England, I. II. i. 32 (1877). The superfluous numbers of idle waks … church-ales, helpe-ales, and soule-ales, called also dirge-ales, with the heathenish rioting at BRIDE-ALES are well diminished.

2

  1589.  PUTTENHAM, Art of English Poesie, 4to M. 1. Romances or historical rimes made on purpose for recreation of the common people, at Christmasse dinner or BRIDE-ALES.

3

  1609.  H. SMITH, Sermons. How happy are those, in whom faith, and love, and godlinesse are maried together, before they marry themselves? For none of these martiall, and cloudy, and whining mariages can say, that godlines was invited to their BRIDE-ALE; and therefore the blessings which are promised to godlinesse, doe flie from them.

4

  1633.  JONSON, A Tale of a Tub, ii. 1.

        A man that’s bid to bride-ale, if he ha’ cake
And drink enough, he need not vear [fear] his stake.

5

  1776.  BRAND, Observations on Popular Antiquities (1813) I. 229. [There were] Leet-Ale, Lamb-Ale, Whitson-Ale, Clerk-Ale, BRIDE-ALE, Church-Ale, Scot-Ale, Midsummer-Ale, &c.

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