English

Noun

alestake ‎(plural alestakes)

Alternative forms

• ale-stake

1. (historical) A stake or pole serving as a sign at an alehouse, often with a garland or "bush" attached.

   Chaucer, "Prologue", Cantebury Tales

   And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed.

   A gerland hadde he set upon his heed

   As greet as it were for an ale-stake;

   A bokeleer hadde he maad him of a cake.

Usage notes

The alestake of medieval taverns was mounted horizontally from the wall of the building.^[1] The term is not in current use. Modern aleposts can be set vertically in the ground or be attached horizontally to the pub and carry a painted sign rather than a garland.

Synonyms

• alepole
• ale post
• alepost

References

1. ↑ Walter William Skeat, Chaucer's Works, notes on the prologue to the Cantebury Tales.