Noel
Noel (also spelled Nowell or Noël) (nəʊˈɛl) is an alternative word for Christmas. It first entered the English language in the 14th century. The word comes from Middle English noel, which derives from the Old French word noël and its more common form naël. The English spelling "Noël" is taken directly from modern French, which also derives from the Old French. The ultimate Latin origin is the phrase nātālis (diēs), "(day) of birth".
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Famous quotes containing the word noel:
“Alas! how deeply painful is all payment!”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“I’ll publish, right or wrong:
Fools are my theme, let satire be my song.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“There be none of beauty’s daughters
With a magic like thee;
And like music on the waters
Is thy sweet voice to me:”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)