Hail (hāl), noun [OE. hail, haȝel, AS. hægel, hagol; akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw. hagel; Icel. hagl; cf. Gr. κάχληξ pebble.] Small roundish masses of ice precipitated from the clouds, where they are formed by the congelation of vapor. The separate masses or grains are called hailstones.

1Thunder mixed with hail,
Hail mixed with fire, must rend the Egyptian sky. Milton.

Hail, intransitive verb [imperfect or past participle Hailed (hāld); present participle or verbal noun Hailing.] [OE. hailen, AS. hagalian.] To pour down particles of ice, or frozen vapors.

Hail, transitive verb To pour forcibly down, as hail. Shak.

Hail, adjective Healthy. See Hale (the preferable spelling).

Hail, transitive verb [OE. hailen, heilen, Icel. heill hale, sound, used in greeting. See Hale sound.]

1. To call loudly to, or after; to accost; to salute; to address.

2. To name; to designate; to call.

And such a son as all men hailed me happy. Milton.

Hail, intransitive verb

1. To declare, by hailing, the port from which a vessel sails or where she is registered; hence, to sail; to come; – used with from; as, the steamer hails from New York.

2. To report as one’s home or the place from whence one comes; to come; – with from. [Colloq.] C. G. Halpine.

Hail, interjection [See Hail, transitive verb] An exclamation of respectful or reverent salutation, or, occasionally, of familiar greeting.

“Hail, brave friend.” Shak.

All hail

See in the Vocabulary.

Hail Mary

a form of prayer made use of in the Roman Catholic Church in invocation of the Virgin. See Ave Maria.

Hail, noun A wish of health; a salutation; a loud call.

“Their puissant hail.” M. Arnold.

The angel hail bestowed. Milton.

-- Websters 1913