noel
/nəʊˈɛl/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: noels
Meaning · English
A kind of hymn, or canticle, of mediaeval origin, sung in honor of the birth of Christ; a Christmas carol.
Noun
Examples
The first Nowell the Angel did say / Was to three poor Shepherds in the fields as they lay[…]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “noel” mean?
A kind of hymn, or canticle, of mediaeval origin, sung in honor of the birth of Christ; a Christmas carol.
Is “noel” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.