from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Yule \Yule\ ([=u]l), n. [OE. yol, [yogh]ol, AS. ge['o]l; akin to
ge['o]la December or January, Icel. j[=o]l Yule, Ylir the
name of a winter month, Sw. jul Christmas, Dan. juul, Goth.
jiuleis November or December. Cf. {Jolly}.]
Christmas or Christmastide; the feast of the Nativity of our
Savior.
[1913 Webster]
And at each pause they kiss; was never seen such rule
In any place but here, at bonfire, or at Yule.
--Drayton.
[1913 Webster]
{Yule block}, or {Yule log}, a large log of wood formerly put
on the hearth on Christmas eve, as the foundation of the
fire. It was brought in with much ceremony.
{Yule clog}, the yule log. --Halliwell. W. Irving.
[1913 Webster]