See Also: e-mail(encyclopedia)
mail(1)(dictionary)
mail(2)(dictionary)
mail(3)(dictionary)
mail(4)(dictionary)
mail(5)(dictionary)
mail(6)(dictionary)
mail(7)(dictionary)
Mail, The(dictionary)
mail(8)(dictionary)

mail(4) (iou)



mail noun2. ME.
[Old & mod. French maille from Latin macula spot, mesh.]
1. Any of the metal rings or plates composing mail-armour. ME-E18.
2. Armour composed of interlaced rings or chains or of overlapping plates fastened on some material. ME.
chain-mail. fig.: G. Macdonald She was clad in the mail of endurance. coat of mail: see COAT noun. frock of mail: see FROCK noun. shirt of mail: see SHIRT noun.
Milton Mangl'd with gastly wounds through Plate and Maile. W. Morris Through the glimmering thicket the linked mail rang out.
b. A piece of such armour. Only in E17.
Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida To hang Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail.
c. The protective shell or scales of certain animals. E18.
M. Arnold The sea-snakes coil and twine, Dry their mail and bask in the brine.
3. a. A small hole for a lace, clasp, or other fastening of a garment to pass through; an eyelet-hole, an eye. LME-M17.
b. Weaving. A ring in a loom through which the warp thread passes. M18.
4. A film over the eye; a defect in vision. Long obsolete exc. dial. LME.
5. Falconry. The breast-feathers of a hawk collectively, when the feathers are full-grown. Also, the plumage of certain other birds. L15.
6. A section of interlinked pieces of metal used in rope-making for rubbing loose hemp off cordage. M18.
Attrib. & comb.: In the senses 'made of mail', 'in mail', as mail-armour, mail-shirt, mail-clad adjective, etc.
mailless [-l-l-] adjective E19.