See Also: vail(3)(dictionary)
vail(1)(dictionary)
vail(2)(dictionary)
Vail(dictionary)
vail(4)(dictionary)
Vail(encyclopedia)
Linz and Vail(tourism)
Stormont-Vail HealthCare(health)
Stormont-Vail Health Care(health)
Vail Valley Medical Center(health)

vail(4) (iou)



vail verb2. arch. Orig. vale. ME.
[Aphet. from AVALE.]
I. verb trans.
Cause or allow to go down or drop; esp. lower (a weapon or banner, the eyes or head, a sail, etc.) as a sign of submission or respect. ME.
F. Quarles What dire disaster bred This change, that thus she vails her golden head? J. Keble Go..teach proud Science where to vail her brow.
Take off (one's hat, crown, plumes, etc.) as a sign of submission or respect. LME.
vail bonnet, vail one's bonnet, vail the bonnet fig. show respect or submission, acknowledge defeat or inferiority.
fig. Humble, yield, (one's pride, heart, courage, etc.); submit or subject (one thing) to (another). L16.
Joseph Hall No reason why you should vail your owne just advantage to another mans excesse.
II. verb intrans.
Fall (down); descend. LME-E17.
Nautical. Lower the sail. E16-M17.
Of a hat: be taken off as a sign of submission or respect. rare. M16.
Take off one's hat (to a person etc.) as a sign of respect. L16.
fig. Submit, yield, or give way to. E17.
L. Murray They all vail to the English idiom, and scruple not to acknowledge its superiority.
b. Do homage to a person. rare (Shakes.). Only in E17.