v., int., & n.
v. 1 tr. greet enthusiastically. 2 tr. signal to or attract the attention of (hailed a taxi). 3 tr. acclaim (hailed him king). 4 intr. (foll. by from) have one's home or origins in (a place) (hails from Mauritius).
int. expressing greeting.
n. 1 a greeting or act of hailing. 2 distance as affecting the possibility of hailing (was within hail). hail-fellow-well-met intimate, esp. too intimate. Hail Mary the Ave Maria (see AVE). hailer n.
[ ellipt. use of obs. hail (adj.) f. ON heill sound, WHOLE ]