1. 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.
Etymology: OE hagol, h{aelig}gl, hagalian f. Gmc 2. 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).
Phrases and idioms:
hail-fellow-well-met intimate, esp. too intimate. Hail Mary the Ave Maria (see AVE).
Derivatives:
hailer n.
Etymology: ellipt. use of obs. hail (adj.) f. ON heill sound, WHOLE