vail Hear it!

vail1 definition

vail (vāl)

intransitive verb

Archaic to be of use, service, or profit; avail

Etymology: ME vailen < pres. indic. stem of OFr valoir, to be of worth: see avail

noun

Archaic a tip; gratuity
vail2 definition

vail (vāl)

transitive verb

  1. to lower; let sink or fall down
  2. to take off or tip (one's hat, etc.) as a sign of respect or submission

Etymology: ME valen < OFr valer or aphetic < avaler, to descend < à val, down < L ad vallum, lit., to the valley

vail3 definition

vail (vāl)

noun, transitive verb

Obsolete veil

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.