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Historical English

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

Historical dictionary evidence for King James-era English usage and KJV false friends.

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Hail

Etymology: from the same root as call , Latin calo , Greek. See Call and Heal .

Definitions

1

HAIL , verb transitive [from the same root as call , Latin calo , Greek. See Call and Heal .]

2

To call; to call to a person at a distance, to arrest his attention. It is properly used in any case where the person accosted is distant, but is appropriately used by seamen. Hoa or hoi , the ship ahoay , is the usual manner of hailing; to which the answer is holloa , or hollo . Then follow the usual questions, whence came ye? where are you bound? &c.

3

HAIL , noun [Saxon hoegel or hagel ; German, Dutch Danish and Swedish hagel ; so called from its rough, broken form, from the root of hack , haggle .]

4

Masses of ice or frozen vapor, falling from the clouds in showers or storms. These masses consist of little spherules united, but not all of the same consistence; some being as hard and solid as perfect ice; others soft, like frozen snow. Hailstones assume various figures; some are round, others angular, others pyramidical, others flat, and sometimes they are stellated with six radii, like crystals of snow.

5

HAIL , verb intransitive To pour down masses of ice or frozen vapors.

6

HAIL , adjective [Saxon hal , whole, sound; hoel , health; German heil , Dutch Danish heel , Swedish hel , Greek, whole. See Heal .]

7

Sound; whole; healthy; not impaired by disease; as a hail body; hail corn. [In this sense, it is usually written hale .]

8

HAIL , an exclamation, or rather a verb in the imperative mode, being the adjective hail , used as a verb. Hail , be well; be in health; health to you; a term of salutation, equivalent to Latin salve , salvete .

9

Hail , hail , brave friend.

10

HAIL , verb transitive To pour.

11

HAIL , noun A wish of health; a salutation. This word is sometimes used as a noun; as, the angel hail bestowed.

Linked false friends: Hail

Source: American Dictionary of the English Language (1828 Edition), MDX derived from public Internet Archive item. Private-use review; confirm rights before public redistribution