vail

¹

[veyl]

verb (used with object)

1. to let sink; lower.

2. Archaic.,  to take off or doff (one's hat), as in respect or submission.

vail

²

[veyl]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to be of use or profit to someone; avail.

noun

1. a tip; gratuity.

vail

³

[veyl]

noun

1. a veil.

verb (used with object)

1. to veil.

vail

¹

/ veɪl /

verb

1. to lower (something, such as a weapon), esp as a sign of deference or submission

2. to remove (the hat, cap, etc) as a mark of respect or meekness

vail

²

/ veɪl /

noun

1. an archaic word for avail

vail

³

/ veɪl /

noun

1. an archaic spelling of veil

Word History and Origins

Origin of vail¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English valen, vaile “to subside, sink,” shortened variant of avalen, awalen, availen (now obsolete), from Middle French avaler “to move down,” derived from the phrase a val “down” (literally, ”to the valley”), equivalent to a “to” (from Latin ad ) + val vale )

Origin of vail²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English vailen, vaille, valen, shortened variant of avail

Origin of vail³

First recorded in 1350–1400

Word History and Origins

Origin of vail¹

c14 valen, from obsolete avalen, from Old French avaler to let fall, from Latin ad vallem, literally: to the valley, that is, down, from ad to + vallis _valley

Example Sentences

Vail School District Superintendent John Carruth quickly put out a statement denying that the shirts had anything to do with Kirk’s assassination.

Read more on Salon

Last winter, visits to Vail’s 37 North American resorts declined, even though the number of U.S. skiers hitting the slopes increased overall.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Sales of Vail’s flagship product, its all-access Epic Pass, have been going downhill.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That was the year Katz stepped down from his first stint as Vail’s CEO after 15 years in the role.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Over that time, he presided over an acquisition spree and the launch of the Epic Pass, which revolutionized the ski business by offering a single lift ticket for unlimited access to dozens of Vail properties around the world.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal