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arval

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Arval is an archaic Northern English and Scottish dialect term for a funeral feast or wake, traditionally involving bread, ale, and communal mourning rites.

Detailed Definition
In archaic poetry, especially dialect verse, "arval" refers to the post-burial meal shared by mourners, symbolizing community support, inheritance transitions, and the continuation of life amid death. It grounds poems in specific regional customs, evoking sensory details of shared food and drink alongside grief. Its significance lies in highlighting folk traditions that blend sorrow with sustenance, reinforcing social bonds. Nuances include its association with specific foods like arval-bread and rituals such as offering portions to animals or the poor.
Example
Example in poetry:
From F. W. Moorman's "Telling The Bees": "T' mourners are coom, an' t' arval is spread, / Cakes fresh frae t' yoon, an' fine havver-bread." The term depicts the funeral feast following a death, where mourners gather and traditions extend even to the bees.
Additional Notes
Historical context or origin: Derived from Norse/Viking traditions of inheritance feasts (erfiǫl), common in Northern England and Scotland. Related terms or variations: Also called arvel or arvil; associated with "arval-bread" or "funeral ale." Common usage tips or pitfalls to avoid: Use in dialect or historical poems to evoke authenticity; explain for modern readers unfamiliar with regional folklore. Cross-references to similar or contrasting terms: Similar to "wake" or "funeral banquet"; contrasts with solitary mourning by emphasizing communal feasting. Etymology if relevant: From Old Norse erfiǫl, combining arfr (inheritance) and ǫl (ale).
Also Known As
arvel arvill funeral feast wake
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