mail

English

/meɪ̯l/

noun
Definitions
  • (now) A bag or wallet.
  • A bag containing letters to be delivered by post.
  • The material conveyed by the postal service.
  • (dated) A stagecoach, train or ship that delivers such post.
  • The postal service or system in general.
  • (chiefly) The letters, parcels, etc. delivered to a particular address or person.
  • (uncountable) electronic Electronic mail, e-mail: a computer network–based service for sending, storing, and forwarding electronic messages.
  • A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English male derived from male derived from Old French male (leather wooden travel-case, leather bag, bag, wallet) derived from Frankish *malhu, *malha (leather bag, bag) derived from Proto-Germanic *malhō (leather bag, bag, pouch) derived from Proto-Indo-European *molko- (leather pouch, leather bag).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*molko-

Gloss

leather pouch, leather bag

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms