Hypertext Webster Gateway: "ale"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ale \Ale\ ([=a]l), n. [AS. ealu, akin to Icel., Sw., and Dan.
["o]l, Lith. alus a kind of beer, OSlav. ol[u^] beer. Cf. Ir.
ol drink, drinking.]
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Beer \Beer\, n. [OE. beor, ber, AS. be['o]r; akin to Fries.
biar, Icel. bj?rr, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E.
brew. [root]93, See {Brew}.]
1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but
commonly from barley malt, with hops or some other
substance to impart a bitter flavor.
Note: Beer has different names, as {small beer}, {ale},
{porter}, {brown stout}, {lager beer}, according to its
strength, or other qualities. See {Ale}.
2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of
various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc.
{Small beer}, weak beer; (fig.) insignificant matters. ``To
suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.'' --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
ale
n : fermented alcoholic beverage similar to but heavier than
beer
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