VAIL, n. [L. velum, from velo, to cover, to spread over. It is correctly written vail for e, in Latin, is our a.] 1. Any kind of cloth which is used for intercepting the view and hiding something; as the vail of the temple among the Israelites.2. A piece of thin cloth or silk stuff, used by females to hide their faces. In some eastern countries, certain classes of females never appear abroad without vails.3. A cover; that which conceals; as the vail of oblivion.4. In botany, the membranous covering of the germen in the Musci and Hepaticae; the calypter.5. Vails, money given to servants. [Not used in America.]VAIL, v.t. [L. velo.] To cover; to hide from the sight; as, to vail the face. VAIL, v.t. 1. To let fall.They stiffly refused to vail their bonnets.[I believe wholly obsolete.]2. To let fall; to lower; as, to vail the topsail. Obs.3. To let fall; to sink. Obs.VAIL, v.i. To yield or recede; to give place; to show respect by yielding. Thy convenience must vail to thy neighbor's necessity. Obs.
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