from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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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.
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There is a mail come in to-day, with letters dated
Hague. --Tatler.
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3. That which comes in the mail; letters, etc., received
through the post office.
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4. A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be
carried. [Obs.] --Sir W. Scott.
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{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.
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