ealu

Old English

Alternative forms

• alu, ealo

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *alu, from Proto-Germanic *alu, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂elut-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈæ͜ɑ.lu/

Noun

ealu n

1. beer, ale
   • Judges:

     Ne hē ealu ne drince nǣfre oþþe wīn.

     Let him never drink beer or wine.

Usage notes

• The nom.-acc. pl. and dat. pl. are not attested. However, they can be reconstructed as the likely forms from (1) the genitive plural ealoþa, (2) cognates in related languages, and (3) the endings of fellow þ-stems hæle (“hero”) and mæġeþ (“girl”).

Declension

Declension of ealu (consonant stem, irregular)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	ealu	ealoþ
accusative	ealu	ealoþ
genitive	ealoþ	ealoþa
dative	ealoþ	ealoþum

Synonyms

• bēor

Derived terms

• brȳdealu
• ealubenċ (“ale-bench”)
• ealudrincende (“ale-drinking”)
• ealuwǣġe (“ale-cup”)

Descendants

• Middle English: ale, ail
  • English: ale
  • Geordie English: yel
  • Scots: yill, ale, aill, ayll
  • ⇒ Yola: aalhouse