mail

I. noun Etymology: Middle English male, maille, from Old English māl agreement, pay, from Old Norse māl speech, agreement; akin to Old English mǣl speech Date: before 12th century chiefly Scottish payment, rent II. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English male, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German malaha bag Date: 13th century 1. chiefly Scottish bag, wallet 2. a. material sent or carried in the postal system b. a conveyance that transports mail c. e-mail 2a 3. a nation's postal system — often used in plural III. transitive verb Date: 1827 to send by mail ; post • mailability noun • mailable adjective IV. noun Etymology: Middle English maille metal link, mail, from Anglo-French, from Latin macula spot, mesh Date: 14th century 1. armor made of metal links or sometimes plates 2. a hard enclosing covering of an animal (as a tortoise) • mailed adjective