MAIGRE, m[=a]'g[.e]r, _adj._ made neither from flesh-meat nor from gravy:
belonging to a fast-day or to a fast.--MAIGRE FOOD, food allowed to be
eaten on fast-days. [Fr. _maigre_, lean--L. _macer_.]
MAIL, m[=a]l, _n._ defensive armour for the body formed of steel rings or
network: armour generally.--_v.t._ to clothe in mail: (_Scot._) to
stain.--_adjs._ MAIL'-CLAD, clad with a coat of mail; MAILED, protected by
mail. [Fr. _maille_--L. _macula_, a spot or a mesh.]
MAIL, m[=a]l, _n._ a bag for the conveyance of letters, &c.: the contents
of such a bag: the person or the carriage by which the mail is
conveyed.--_v.t._ to put into the mail: to send by mail.--_adj._ MAIL'ABLE,
capable of being sent by mail.--_ns._ MAIL'-BAG, a bag in which letters are
carried; MAIL'-BOAT, a boat which carries the public mails; MAIL'-CART, a
cart in which mails are carried: a small cart, with long handles, for the
amusement of children; MAIL'-CATCH'ER, an apparatus attached to a
mail-carriage to catch up mail-bags while the train is in motion;
MAIL'-COACH, -CAR, or -DRAG, the conveyance which carries the public mails;
MAIL'-GUARD, an officer who guards the public mails; MAIL'ING-T[=A]'BLE, a
table used in a post-office in sorting letters; MAIL'-TRAIN, a railway
train which carries the public mails. [O. Fr. _male_, a trunk, a mail--Old
High Ger. _malaha_, a sack; Gael. _mala_, a sack.]
MAIL, m[=a]l, _n._ an old French coin--half a denier: rent.--_n._ MAIL'ING,
a farm. [See BLACKMAIL.]
MAIM, m[=a]m, _n._ a bruise: an injury: a lameness: the loss of any
essential part.--_v.t._ to bruise: to disfigure: to injure: to lame or
cripple: to render defective.--_n._ MAIM'EDNESS, the state of being maimed
or injured. [O. Fr. _mehaing_, a bruise.]