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mail1 / māl/ • n. letters and packages conveyed by the postal system. ∎ (also the mails) the postal system: you can order by mail the check is in the mail | [as adj.] a mail truck. ∎ [in sing.] a single delivery or collection of mail: the new magazine that came in the mail today. ∎ Comput. electronic mail. ∎ dated a vehicle, such as a train, carrying mail. ∎ archaic a bag of letters to be conveyed by the postal system. • v. [tr.] send (a letter or package) using the postal system: if you will mail the coupon, we'll send you a free trial package. ∎ Comput. send (someone) electronic mail. DERIVATIVES: mail·a·ble adj. mail2 • n. hist. armor made of metal rings or plates, joined together flexibly. ∎ the protective shell or scales of certain animals. • v. [tr.] clothe or cover with mail: [as adj.] (mailed) a mailed gauntlet. PHRASES: the mailed fist the use of physical force to maintain control or impose one's will. |
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Cite this article
"mail." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "mail." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-mail.html "mail." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-mail.html |
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mail3 (now Sc. and U.S.) pack, bag XIII; bag of letters for conveyance by post; person or vehicle conveying this XVII. ME. male — OF. male (mod. malle bag, trunk), of Gmc. orig.
Hence vb. (orig. U.S.). send by post. XIX. |
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T. F. HOAD. "mail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "mail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-mail2.html T. F. HOAD. "mail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-mail2.html |
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mail2 (now Sc.) payment, tax, tribute. north. repr. of late OE. māl — ON. mál speech, agreement = OE. mæl speech; in sense the Eng. word corr. rather to ON. mǣli stipulation, stipulated pay.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "mail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "mail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-mail1.html T. F. HOAD. "mail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-mail1.html |
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mail1 ring or plate of armour; armour composed of rings XIV; breast feathers of a hawk XV. — (O)F. maille mesh:- L. macula spot, mesh.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "mail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "mail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-mail.html T. F. HOAD. "mail." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-mail.html |
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mail see postal service . |
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"mail." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "mail." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-mail.html "mail." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-mail.html |
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mail See electronic mail.
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JOHN DAINTITH. "mail." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN DAINTITH. "mail." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-mail.html JOHN DAINTITH. "mail." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-mail.html |
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mail •ail, ale, assail, avail, bail, bale, bewail, brail, Braille, chain mail, countervail, curtail, dale, downscale, drail, dwale, entail, exhale, fail, faille, flail, frail, Gael, Gail, gale, Grail, grisaille, hail, hale, impale, jail, kale, mail, male, nail, nonpareil, outsail, pail, pale, quail, rail, sail, sale, sangrail, scale, shale, snail, stale, swale, tail, tale, they'll, trail, upscale, vail, vale, veil, wail, wale, whale, Yale
•Passchendaele • Airedale
•Wensleydale • Clydesdale
•Chippendale • Coverdale • Abigail
•galingale • martingale • nightingale
•farthingale • Windscale • timescale
•blackmail • airmail
•email, female
•Ishmael • voicemail • vermeil
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Cite this article
"mail." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "mail." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-mail.html "mail." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-mail.html |
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