HAIL

n. & v. --n. 1 pellets of frozen rain falling in showers from cumulonimbus clouds. 2 (foll. by of) a barrage or onslaught (of missiles, curses, questions, etc.). --v. 1 intr. (prec. by it as subject) hail falls (it is hailing; if it hails). 2 a tr. pour down (blows, words, etc.). b intr. come down forcefully. [OE hagol, hógl, hagalian f. Gmc]