- Mail Mail (m[=a]l), n. [OE. male bag, OF. male, F. malle bag,
trunk, mail, OHG. malaha, malha, wallet; akin to D. maal,
male; cf. Gael. & Ir. mala, Gr. molgo`s hide, skin.]
1. A bag; a wallet. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
2. The bag or bags with the letters, papers, or other matter contained therein, conveyed under public authority from one post office to another; the whole system of appliances used by government in the conveyance and delivery of mail matter. [1913 Webster]
There is a mail come in to-day, with letters dated Hague. --Tatler. [1913 Webster]
3. That which comes in the mail; letters, etc., received through the post office. [1913 Webster]
4. A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried. [Obs.] --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
{Mail catcher}, an iron rod, or other contrivance, attached to a railroad car for catching a mail bag while the train is in motion.
{Mail guard}, an officer whose duty it is to guard the public mails. [Eng.]
{Mail train}, a railroad train carrying the mail. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
