Etymology: Probably partly < Middle French, French †régale right of a king to receive revenue of a vacant bishopric, investiture of a bishopric or abbey, royal right or privilege (see regal n.¹) and partly < post-classical Latin regale royal power, dignity, right, prerogative (see regal n.¹; compare regalia n.¹ for borrowing of the corresponding plural form), substance used in the purification of gold (1584 in the passage translated in quot. 1650 at sense 2). Compare also earlier regaly n.In most cases it is unclear whether the spelling forms reflect a disyllabic or trisyllabic pronunciation, and hence to what extent the word is a borrowing from either French or Latin. With sense 2 compare the following, and perhaps also French eau régale (1680):1671 J. Webster Metallographia xi. 155 It [sc. gold] will not onely indure the trial per cineritium, or testing with Lead..but also the probat of Aqua fortis, the cementum regale by Antimony. N.E.D. (1905) gives the pronunciation as (rĭgēⁱ·li, F. regal) /rɪˈɡeɪlɪ/, /reɡal/.

Etymology: Probably partly < regale v. and partly < French †régale (usually masculine; occasionally also feminine) present, gift (1638), celebration in honour of a person (1651), feast, lavish meal (1668), refreshment of fruits, jam, etc. given to a traveller, especially in Italy (1694; 2nd half of the 17th cent. as régal , masculine, which is now the current form; compare Old French rigale (1310), Middle French rigalle (1450), both in sense ‘feast, festivity’), of uncertain origin; perhaps an alteration of Old French gale merrymaking (see gallant adj.) by association with rigoler rigole v., with subsequent alteration of the first syllable by association with ré- re- prefix. Perhaps also partly a naturalized form of regalo n. or one of its etymons; the relationships between Italian regalo , Spanish regalo , Portuguese regalo and the French word are uncertain. Compare Dutch regaal gift, feast, festivity, hospitality (1735) < French. Compare earlier regalo n. and Romance forms cited at that entry.

Etymology: < scientific Latin regale, specific epithet of Lilium regale (E. H. Wilson (1912), in Horticulture 16 110), specific use of neuter of classical Latin rēgālis regal adj.

Etymology: < Spanish regalar to spoil, pamper (a person) (15th cent., earliest as participial adjective), to give a present to, to fête, to bestow largesse upon (a person) (1607 or earlier), of uncertain origin; perhaps a figurative use of regalar to melt, to soften (1246) < an unattested post-classical Latin form *recalare < classical Latin re- re- prefix + calāre to let down (see calade n.). Compare French régaler to please, to entertain (1611 in Cotgrave), Catalan regalar to entertain, to please (16th cent.), to flatter (1696), Portuguese regalar (15th cent.), Italian regalare to present gifts to, to bestow largesse upon (1598 in Florio); the relationships among the Romance forms are far from certain. Compare earlier regalo n.Compare the following uses of Spanish regalar in English linguistic contexts:1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 170 I began to Regalar him, and to serue him; presenting him still with one thing or other, inlarging my hand like a Prince.1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 242 He did..regalar me at his owne Table, feeding me from his owne Plate with all the choysest dainties and delicacies, and with all manner of sweet Meates.1632 J. Mabbe tr. J. de Santa Maria Policie Unveiled xxix. 345 But he that doth Regalar, and pamper vp this sense most, doth most of all make it his enemie.1654 J. Howell in S. Lennard tr. S. Mazzella Parthenopoeia ii. 18 He sent speciall Commission to the Towns through which he was to pass, that they should entertain and regalar him som dayes.