Definition: hail

Search dictionary for

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

hail
     n 1: precipitation of ice pellets when there are strong rising
          air currents
     2: enthusiastic greeting
     v 1: praise vociferously [syn: acclaim, herald]
     2: be a native of; "She hails from Kalamazoo" [syn: come]
     3: call for, as of cabs
     4: greet enthusiastically or joyfully [syn: herald]
     5: precipitate as small ice particles; "It hailed for an hour."

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Hail \Hail\, interj. [See Hail, v. t.]
   An exclamation of respectful or reverent salutation, or,
   occasionally, of familiar greeting. ``Hail, brave friend.''
   --Shak.

   All hail. See in the Vocabulary.

   Hail Mary, a form of prayer made use of in the Roman
      Catholic Church in invocation of the Virgin. See Ave
      Maria.
Hail \Hail\, n.
   A wish of health; a salutation; a loud call. ``Their puissant
   hail.'' --M. Arnold.

         The angel hail bestowed.                 --Milton.
Hail \Hail\ (h[=a]l), n. [OE. hail, ha[yogh]el, AS. h[ae]gel;
   akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw. hagel; Icel. hagl; cf. Gr.
   ka`chlhx pebble.]
   Small roundish masses of ice precipitated from the clouds,
   where they are formed by the congelation of vapor. The
   separate masses or grains are called hailstones.

         Thunder mixed with hail, Hail mixed with fire, must
         rend the Egyptian sky.                   --Milton.
Hail \Hail\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Halled; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Halting.] [OE. hailen, AS. haqalian.]
   To pour down particles of ice, or frozen vapors.
Hail \Hail\, v. t.
   To pour forcibly down, as hail. --Shak.
Hail \Hail\, a.
   Healthy. See Hale (the preferable spelling).
Hail \Hail\, v. t. [OE. hailen, heilen, Icel. heil hale, sound,
   used in greeting. See Hale sound.]
   1. To call loudly to, or after; to accost; to salute; to
      address.

   2. To name; to designate; to call.

            And such a son as all men hailed me happy. --Milton.
Hail \Hail\, v. i.
   1. To declare, by hailing, the port from which a vessel sails
      or where she is registered; hence, to sail; to come; --
      used with from; as, the steamer hails from New York.

   2. To report as one's home or the place from whence one
      comes; to come; -- with from. [Colloq.] --G. G. Halpine.
Hale \Hale\ (h[=a]l), a. [Written also hail.] [OE. heil, Icel.
   heill; akin to E. whole. See Whole.]
   Sound; entire; healthy; robust; not impaired; as, a hale
   body.

         Last year we thought him strong and hale. --Swift.

Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Hail!
   a salutation expressive of a wish for the welfare of the person
   addressed; the translation of the Greek _Chaire_, "Rejoice"
   (Luke 1:8). Used in mockery in Matt. 27:29.
Hail
   frozen rain-drops; one of the plagues of Egypt (Ex. 9:23). It is
   mentioned by Haggai as a divine judgment (Hag. 2:17). A
   hail-storm destroyed the army of the Amorites when they fought
   against Joshua (Josh. 10:11). Ezekiel represents the wall daubed
   with untempered mortar as destroyed by great hail-stones (Ezek.
   13:11). (See also 38:22; Rev. 8:7; 11:19; 16:21.)