Mail, n. [OE. maile,
maille, F. maille a ring of mail, mesh, network, a coat
of mail, fr. L. macula spot, a mesh of a net. Cf.
Macle, Macula, Mascle.] 1.
A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was used
especially for defensive armor. Chaucer.
Chain mail, Coat of mail.
See under Chain, and Coat.
2. Hence generally, armor, or any defensive
covering.
3. (Naut.) A contrivance of
interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white
cordage.
4. (Zoöl.) Any hard protective
covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of
a lobster, etc.
We . . . strip the lobster of his scarlet
mail.
Gay.Mail, v. t. 1. To
arm with mail.
2. To pinion. [Obs.]
Mail (māl), n. A spot.
[Obs.]
Mail, n. [F. maille, OF. also
maaille, LL. medalia. See Medal.]
1. A small piece of money; especially, an
English silver half-penny of the time of Henry V. [Obs.]
[Written also maile, and maille.]
2. Rent; tribute. [Obs., except in
certain compounds and phrases, as blackmail, mails and duties,
etc.]
Mail and duties (Scots Law), the
rents of an estate, in whatever form paid.
Mail, n. [OE. male bag, OF.
male, F. malle bag, trunk, mail, OHG. malaha,
malha, wallet; akin to D. maal, male; cf. Gael.
& Ir. mala, Gr. molgo`s hide, skin.]
1. A bag; a wallet. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
2. The bag or bags with the letters, papers,
or other matter contained therein, conveyed under public authority
from one post office to another; the whole system of appliances used
by government in the conveyance and delivery of mail
matter.
There is a mail come in to-day, with letters
dated Hague.
Tatler.
3. That which comes in the mail; letters,
etc., received through the post office.
4. A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing,
etc., may be carried. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.
Mail bag, a bag in which mailed matter is
conveyed under public authority. -- Mail boat,
a boat that carries the mail. -- Mail
catcher, an iron rod, or other contrivance, attached to
a railroad car for catching a mail bag while the train is in
motion. -- Mail guard, an officer whose
duty it is to guard the public mails. [Eng.] -- Mail
train, a railroad train carrying the mail.
Mail, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mailed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mailing.] To deliver into the custody of the postoffice
officials, or place in a government letter box, for transmission by
mail; to post; as, to mail a letter. [U. S.]
☞ In the United States to mail and to post are
both in common use; as, to mail or post a letter. In
England post is the commoner usage.