vail

¹ American  

[veyl] / veɪl /

verb (used with object)

1. to let sink; lower.

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

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vail ² American  

[veyl] / veɪl /

verb (used with or without object)

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

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noun

1. a tip; gratuity.

vail ³ American  

[veyl] / veɪl /

noun

1. a veil.

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verb (used with object)

1. to veil.

vail ¹ British  

/ 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

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vail ² British  

/ veɪl /

noun

1. an archaic word for avail

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vail ³ British  

/ veɪl /

noun

1. an archaic spelling of veil

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Etymology

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

Example Sentences

He’s also in contact with members of her medical team, as he trained Dr. Tom Hackett, a renowned orthopedic surgeon at The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., who works with Vonn to manage her knee health.

From Los Angeles Times

The children crowding round the Vail gondola for the ride up to the ski slopes could be following the path of two little girls who started in the same place and made it to the top of the mountain: Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin.

From Barron's

Shiffrin, who was born in Vail in the Colorado Rockies and grew up in nearby Edwards, joined the club aged six, and went east to Vermont before returning.

From Barron's

Vonn, who is almost 11 years older, had already gone in the opposite direction, moving west to Vail at 11 from her native Minnesota in search of a bigger, steeper slope.

From Barron's

But Vail's two champions were also similar.

From Barron's