Vail

Quick meaning: Vail is a noun meaning (transitive, obsolete) To lower, let fall; to allow or cause to sink.

Meaning

(transitive, obsolete) To lower, let fall; to allow or cause to sink.

More Meanings

1. (intransitive, obsolete, nautical) To lower a sail, in salute or otherwise.
2. (transitive, obsolete) To remove as a sign of deference, as a hat.
3. (intransitive, obsolete) To pay homage, bow, submit, defer (to someone or something); to yield, give way (to something).
4. (transitive, vexillology) To lower or “dip” a carried flag or banner in a salute by a forward reducing of the angle of the pike/flagstaff with respect to the ground; in extreme instances, as when saluting a monarch, both the banner and the finial of the pike are allowed to rest upon the ground.
5. (obsolete) Profit; return; proceeds.
6. (chiefly in the plural, obsolete) Money given to servants by visitors; a gratuity; also vale.
7. (obsolete) Submission.

Example Sentences

Then let them vale a bonet of their proud ſayle,

[…] Vail your regard Upon a wrong’d, I would fain have said, a maid!

My house is as t’were the Caue, where the yong Out-lawe hoords the stolne vayles of his occupation […]

[…] Now the time is come That France must vail her lofty-plumed crest And let her head fall into England’s lap.

Word Forms

• vails
• vailing
• vailed

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include maple, availment, vailer, value, valure, vaut.

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