arval

noun

1. (Northern-England, Scotland, archaic)A funeral feast or wake at which bread and ale was served, traditional in Scotland, the North of England, and among the Norse.

   “It was customary in the north to have an arval or funeral dinner after an interment.”

   “Only one better feast do I remember, and that was when we gave the arval for the old master when he died of the dropsy. That was a feast if you like. Such a one had never been heard of in the Valley.”

   ““Is there to be an arval dinner?” The arval was the traditional funeral feast celebrated throughout the Land Between the Lakes. It was customary to invite all who had known the deceased.”

2. (historical, rare)The ale served at such a wake, the drinking of which was a ritually significant act in Norse culture.

   “[…] Then quoth Hamtheow, etc.: 'We shall never come back to our mother [when we have slain the King of Goths]. Thou shalt drink the arval for us all together, for Swanhild and thy sons.'”

   “Now for a sealing and making fast of this solemn covenant between you I see no likelier rede than that ye all join with me here this day in good friendship to forget your quarrels in drinking of the arvale of King Gorice XI., than whom hath reigned none mightier nor more worshipful in all this world, and thereafter depart in peace to your native lands.”

   “Hlod rode from the east, heir of Heidrek, he came to the court claiming his birthright, to Arheimar, the homes of the Goths; there drank Angantyrr arval for Heidrek. And so Hlod came to Arheimar […]”

   “And so we shall drink the arval for Ragnar, drink like heroes.”

3. The money given to hunters, at the death of a fox, in order to buy ale.