Entry 8 senses · 5 variants Webster, 1913 Vail /(vāl)/ · IPA /veɪl/ n. & v. t. n. v. t. v. i. n. 01 n. & v. t. Same as Veil. 1. Same as Veil.[Obs.] See: Veil 02 n. Avails; profit; return; proceeds. 1. Avails; profit; return; proceeds.[Obs.] “My house is as 'twere the cave where the young outlaw hoards the stolen vails of his occupation.” — Chapman. 2. An unexpected gain or acquisition; a casual advantage or benefit; a windfall.[Obs.] 3. Money given to servants by visitors; a gratuity; -- usually in the plural. 03 v. t. To let fall; to allow or cause to sink. 1. To let fall; to allow or cause to sink.[Obs.] “Vail your regard Upon a wronged, I would fain have said, a maid!” — Shak. 2. To lower, or take off, in token of inferiority, reverence, submission, or the like. “France must vail her lofty-plumed crest!” — Shak. “Without vailing his bonnet or testifying any reverence for the alleged sanctity of the relic.” — Sir. W. Scott. 04 v. i. To yield or recede; to give place; to show respect by yielding, uncovering, or the like. 1. To yield or recede; to give place; to show respect by yielding, uncovering, or the like.[Obs.] “Thy convenience must vail to thy neighbor's necessity.” — South. 05 n. Submission; decline; descent. 1. Submission; decline; descent.[Obs.]