Part 6754

<hw>Mail</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>maile</ets>, <ets>maille</ets>, F. <ets>maille</ets> a ring of mail, mesh, network, a coat of mail, fr. L. <ets>macula</ets> spot, a mesh of a net. Cf. <er>Macle</er>, <er>Macula</er>, <er>Mascle</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was used especially for defensive armor.</def>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<cs><mcol><col>Chain mail</col>, <col>Coat of mail</col></mcol>. <cd>See under <er>Chain</er>, and <er>Coat</er>.</cd></cs>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Hence generally, armor, or any defensive covering.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc.</def>

<blockquote>We . . . strip the lobster of his scarlet <b>mail</b>. <i>Gay.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Mail</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Mail</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To arm with mail.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To pinion.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Mail</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Mail</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>male</ets> bag, OF. <ets>male</ets>, F. <ets>malle</ets> bag, trunk, mail, OHG. <ets>malaha</ets>, <ets>malha</ets>, wallet; akin to D. <ets>maal</ets>, <ets>male</ets>; cf. Gael. & Ir. <ets>mala</ets>, Gr. <?/ hide, skin.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A bag; a wallet.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The bag or bags with the letters, papers, 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.</def>

<blockquote>There is a <b>mail</b> come in to-day, with letters dated Hague. <i>Tatler.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>That which comes in the mail; letters, etc., received through the post office.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Sir W. Scott.</i>

<cs><col>Mail bag</col>, <cd>a bag in which mailed matter is conveyed under public authority.</cd> -- <col>Mail boat</col>, <cd>a boat that carries the mail.</cd> -- <col>Mail catcher</col>, <cd>an iron rod, or other contrivance, attached to a railroad car for catching a mail bag while the train is in motion.</cd> -- <col>Mail guard</col>, <cd>an officer whose duty it is to guard the public mails.</cd> <mark>[Eng.]</mark> -- <col>Mail train</col>, <cd>a railroad train carrying the mail.</cd></cs>

<h1>Mail</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Mail</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Mailed</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Mailing</er>.]</wordforms> <def>To deliver into the custody of the postoffice officials, or place in a government letter box, for transmission by mail; to post; <as>as, to <ex>mail</ex> a letter</as>.</def> <mark>[U. S.]</mark>

<note>&hand; In the United States <i>to mail</i> and <i>to post</i> are both in common use; as, to <i>mail</i> or <i>post</i> a letter. In England <i>post</i> is the commoner usage.</note>

<h1>Mailable</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Mail"a*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Admissible lawfully into the mail.</def> <mark>[U.S.]</mark>

<h1>Mailclad</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Mail"clad`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Protected by a coat of mail; clad in armor.</def>

<i>Sir W. Scott.</i>

<h1>Mailed</h1> <Xpage=884>