1. revels (English entry by Richard Mulcaster 1582)

   reuells [no explanation]

2. revels (English entry by John Bullokar 1616)

   REVELS: Reuels. Players and dancings, with other pleasant deuices, vsed sometimes in the Kings Court, and elsewhere in great houses.

3. revels (English entry by Henry Cockeram 1623)

   REVELS: Reuells. Dancings, mummings, {&}c.

4. revels (English entry by Thomas Blount 1656)

   REVELS: Revels (from the Fr. Reveiller, | ib. | to awake from sleep) are with us, sports of Dancing, Masking, Comedies, and such like, used formerly in the Kings House, the Inns of Court, or in the Houses of other great personages; And are so called, because they are most used by night, when otherwise men commonly sleep: There is also an Officer, called, The Master of the Revels, who has the ordering and command of these pastimes.

© Feb. 1999