mail

¹

[ meyl ]

noun

1. letters, packages, etc., that are sent or delivered by means of a postal system:

   Storms delayed delivery of the mail.

2. a single collection of such letters, packages, etc., as sent or delivered:

   to open one's mail; to find a bill in the mail; The mail for England was put on the noon plane.

3. Often mails. a system, usually operated or supervised by the national government, for sending or delivering letters, packages, etc.; a postal system: Some people don't trust the mails.

   The travel brochures arrived by mail.

   Some people don't trust the mails.

4. a train, boat, etc., as a carrier of postal matter.
5. email ( def ).

adjective

1. of or relating to mail.

verb (used with object)

1. to send by mail, as by placing in a mailbox; transmit by a postal system.
2. to transmit by email.

verb (used without object)

1. to be sent by a postal system:

   Tax forms are mailing today.

2. to transmit messages by email:

   We only mail to people who sign up on our website.

mail

²

[ meyl ]

noun

1. flexible armor of interlinked rings.
2. any flexible armor or covering, as one having a protective exterior of scales or small plates.
3. Textiles. an oval piece of metal pierced with a hole through which the warp ends are threaded, serving as an eyelet on a heddle or especially on the harness cords of a Jacquard loom.

verb (used with object)

1. to clothe or arm with mail.

mail

³

or maill

[ meyl ]

noun

, Scot.

1. monetary payment or tribute, especially rent or tax.

mail

¹

/ meɪl /

noun

1. informal.
   a rumour or report, esp a racing tip

mail

²

/ meɪl /

noun

1. a type of flexible armour consisting of riveted metal rings or links
2. the hard protective shell of such animals as the turtle and lobster

verb

1. tr to clothe or arm with mail

mail

³

/ meɪl /

noun

1. archaic.
   a monetary payment, esp of rent or taxes

mail

⁴

/ meɪl /

noun

1. Also called (esp Brit)post letters, packages, etc, that are transported and delivered by the post office
2. the postal system
3. a single collection or delivery of mail
4. a train, ship, or aircraft that carries mail
5. short for electronic mail
6. modifier of, involving, or used to convey mail

   a mail train

verb

1. to send by mail Usual Brit wordpost
2. to contact (a person) by electronic mail
3. to send (a message, document, etc) by electronic mail

Derived Forms

• ˈmail-less, adjective
• ˈmailable, adjective
• ˌmailaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• mailless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mail¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun mal(l)e, mail(e), maille “bag, pouch,” from Old French mal(l)e “peddler's basket, trunk, mail coach,” from Germanic; compare Old High German mal(a)ha “satchel, bag”; verb derivative of the noun

Origin of mail²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English maille, maill(e) “one of the rings of which armor was composed,” from Old French mail(l)e, male, from Latin macula “spot, one of the interstices in a net, a mesh”; macula

Origin of mail³

First recorded before 1150; Middle English mol(e), moul, male, late Old English māl “lawsuit, legal action, agreement,” from Old Norse māl “speech, stipulation, legal case, agreement,” cognate with Old English mǣl “speech, conversation” and mæthel “assembly, meeting”

Word History and Origins

Origin of mail¹

C14: from Old French maille mesh, from Latin macula spot

Origin of mail²

Old English māl terms, from Old Norse māl agreement

Origin of mail³

C13: from Old French male bag, probably from Old High German malha wallet

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. copy the mail, Citizens Band Radio Slang. to monitor or listen to a CB transmission.

Example Sentences

He worked as a mail boy in a bank before getting the opportunity to study at theatre college in London.

From BBC

According to the Daily Mail, one of its reporters approached Strahan outside his home and asked about the national anthem controversy.

From Los Angeles Times

“Young voters and first-time voters are more likely to have problems when they vote by mail because they’re just not used to using the mail, period. And they don’t have signatures that are well formed,” Alexander said.

From Los Angeles Times

The process has taken on heightened importance as California has shifted to predominantly conducting elections by mail.

From Los Angeles Times

Voters could send their ballots back through the mail or drop them off in designated boxes or voting centers.

From Los Angeles Times