Now arch. Forms: α. 4–7 vale. β. 6–7 vayl(e, vaill, vaile, 6– vail. γ. 6 veile, 7–9 veil. [ad. OF. valer (rare), or aphetic f. AVALE v.]
I. trans. 1. To lower (a weapon, banner, etc.); to cause or allow to descend or sink.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 12384. Þat swerd he lifte wel on hey, & valede his scheld a party.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XX. xlii. She broke and cleft the crown; and caus’d him vaile His proud and lofty top.
1610. G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict. on Earth, xxxvi. But all so soone as heav’n his browes doth bend, Shee veils her banners, and pulls in her beames.
1864. Skeat, trans. Uhland’s Poems, 234. Faint with toil, he vails his spear.
b. spec. To lower in sign of submission or respect.
1599. Greene, George a Greene, G ij. If any aske a reason why? or how? Say, English Edward vaild his staffe to you.
1616. J. Lane, Contn. Sqr.’s T., V. 331. At whose approche th’ whole armie veild their pikes, soldiers and officers on knees down strikes.
1651. Davenant, Gondibert, I. i. 68. They vayl’d their Ensignes as it by did move.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 289. The besieged begged Quarter, veiled their Standards and Colours, as a sign that they submitted to the Discretion of the Sultan.
c. To lower or cast down (the eyes); to bend, bow down (the head, etc.); to hang (the tail).
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 28. Which bird,… after he hath caste downe his eyes as ashamed at the lothsomnes of his feet, vayleth his taile and plucketh downe the pride of his plumes.
1594. Kyd, Cornelia, V. 418. Valing your Christall eyes to your faire bosoms.
1646. Quarles, Hieroglyphikes, vii. 1. What dire disaster bred This change, that thus she vails her golden head?
1657. Lust’s Dominion, I. iii., in Hazl., Dodsley, XIV. 105. I, vailing my knees to the cold earth.
1675. Plume, Life Hacket, in Cent. Serm., p. xlvii. The jolly Prelat … never stoopt nor vail’d his head.
1836. Keble, Lyra Apost., 117. Voice of the wise of old! Go … teach proud Science where to vail her brow.
1859. Tennyson, Guinevere, 655. Here her hand Grasp’d, made her vail her eyes: she look’d and saw The novice.
† d. To throw down, give up or surrender (a purse). rare–1.
1593. Peele, Edw. I., H ij b. And this sentence is … confirmed by our Lord Lluellen Prince of Wales, and Robin Hood of the great mountaines. So vaile your budgettes to Robin of the mountaine.
2. To doff or take off (a bonnet, hat, crown, or other head-dress), esp. out of respect or as a sign of submission. Also const. to or unto (a person, etc.).
α, β. c. 1460. Emare, 992. When he mette the emperour, He valed his hode with gret honour.
1528. Roy, Rede me (Arb.), 32. In every place wheare we were presente, They vayled their bonetis and bowed a kne.
1591. Lyly, Endym., III. iii. Hee … sayth, seeing it is the fashion of the world, hee will vaile bonet to beautie.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, II. xlviii. 29. This said, the virgin gan her beauoir vale.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 11. His Speech being ended, the King vailed his Crown, a thing rare in any of his Predecessors.
a. 1693. Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. xlii. Pantagruel vayling his Cap and making a Leg with such a majestick Garb,… farewell’d Trinquamelle the President.
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, viii. The bonnets, which hitherto each Chief had worn,… were now at once vailed in honour of the royal warrant.
1843. Lytton, Last Bar., II. ii. The earl acknowledged their greeting by vailing his plumed cap.
γ. 1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 305. As for veiling bonnet before great rulers and magistrats, or within their sight [etc.].
1603. Dekker, Wonderfull Year, Wks. (Grosart), I. 138. Into which [alehouse] as good lucke was,… veiling his Bonnet, he strucke in.
1740. Somerville, Hobbinolia, II. 279. He spake, And veil’d his Bonnet to the Crowd.
1825. Scott, Talism., xxiv. The spiritual dignitaries, who in those days veiled not their bonnets to created being, bestowed on the King … their blessing instead of rendering obeisance.
b. fig. with bonnet: To manifest submission; to acknowledge oneself overcome or surpassed; to yield, give way. (Cf. 3 b.)
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 59. If you giue but a glance to your beholders, you haue vayled the bonnet in token of obedience.
1596. K. Edward III., V. 78. Copland … with a lowly minde Doth vale the bonnet of his victory.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., 360. My heart yerneth … to thinke how many right honourable personages in this unseemly … manner were debased and brought to vale bonet.
1626. in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1909), III. 138. None is made so happy but he hath cause to vale the bonnett.
1739. R. Whatley, Three Lett., 14. After the noted rupture in St. James’s Square, he had so remarkably veil’d his bonnet.
c. (As prec.) To submit or yield, to show respect, to some person, etc.
1587. Holinshed, Chron., III. 297/1. All christendome must veile the bonnet to his holinesse.
1590. Nashe, Martin Marprelate, Wks. (Grosart), I. 241. All Schooles of Phylosophers shoulde haue vailed the bonet vnto God.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 266. Shee wil very neare benumme and captivate thy senses, and make reason vale bonnet to affection.
1675. J. Smith, Chr. Relig. App., II. 14. Therefore we see all the Grecian Philosophy that was not founded upon Tradition … veil’d the Bonnet to that of Pythagoras, Socrates and Plato.
† 3. Naut. To lower, to let or haul down (a sail).
1553. Brende, Q. Curtius, Cc iiij. The waues dyd ryse so hygh and thicke … that the shipmen beganne to vale their sayles.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. 351. In the meane while he taketh the helme into his hande, he vaileth the foresaile, and … laboreth to come out of the darke sea.
1634–5. Brereton, Trav. (Chetham Soc.), 3. We vailed our topsail, and … it being answered that we were of London and bound for Rotterdam, we were dismissed.
fig. 1589. Greene, Menaphon, Wks. (Grosart), VI. 48. If he will her to keepe a low sayle, she will vayle al her sheete.
b. esp. To lower as a salute or in acknowledgement of inferiority. Chiefly with bonnet as object. Sometimes fig. (Cf. 2 b.)
(a) 1509, a. 1529. [see BONNET sb. 2].
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 365. The french Captaine … signified vnto them that for honoure sake, after the olde accustomed facion, they shuld vaile their bonnets, strike saile, and hailse her with shoting of their ordinaunce.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 730. Mysians, Troyans, Tyrians vaile your bonnets, strike your top-sailes to this Indian-Admirall.
1633. Sir J. Burroughs, Sov. Brit. Seas (1651), 62. Divers Ships … that have constantly kept the Narrow Seas, unto which all strangers even at this day vaile Bonnet in acknowlegement of this Superioritie.
1678. Marvell, Growth Popery, Wks. 1875, IV. 282. The pretended causes [of war] were made publick, which were, the not having vailed bonnet to the English yacht [etc.].
(b) 1631. Heywood, Fair Maid of West, I. IV. It did me good To see the Spanish Carvel vail her top Unto my maiden flag.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xix. 68. In token of joy they gave a great shout, and withall vailing their top sails in shew of obedience.
† 4. fig. a. To abase, humble, or lower (one’s courage, the heart, etc.); to submit, subject, or yield (one thing) to (another). Obs.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, IV. (Arb.), 98. Also let oure Dido vayle her hert too bedfeloe Troian.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Jew of Malta, V. ii. Now vaile your pride you captiue Christians.
1602. J. Davies (Heref.), Mirum in Modum, Wks. (Grosart), I. 15/2. Vaile, vaile thy thoughts, th’ imaginations vaile, Vnto the depth of all profundities.
1649. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., I. (1650), 2. There can be no reason why you should vail your owne just advantage to another mans excesse.
1654. Owen, Saints’ Persev., iv. Wks. 1851, XI. 211. Expressing much confidence that the world of saints … will vail their faith and understanding to his dictates.
1827. Scott, Surg. Dau., v. When his gold-laced hat veiled its splendour before the fresher mounted beavers of the ’prentices of Dr. Gray.
b. To strike or cast down. rare–1.
1590. Greene, Orl. Fur., v. i. Then maist thou think that Mars himself came down To vaile thy plumes and heaue thee from thy pompe.
II. intr. † 5. To fall (down); to descend. Obs.
c. 1400. Rowland & O., 497. A quartere of his helme a-waye gane vale, And halfen-dele his one Ere.
a. 1412[?]. Lydg., Two Merch., 542. Thus is he valyd adoun from high degre.
c. 1570. Henry’s Wallace, VIII. 1189. The donk dew doun fra the heuin did vaill.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. iii. (1641), 23. When, through Heav’n’s Vault vailing toward Spain, The Moone descendeth. Ibid., I. vii. 59. Here vales a Valley, there ascends a Mountain.
1624. Fletcher, Wife for Month, III. iii. His jollity is down, valed to the ground Sir, And his high hopes … Are turn’d tormentors to him.
† b. Of a swelling: To go down, subside. Obs.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 4261. He laide þe hare on his eye lidd, Abouen þe bolnyng…. Be fore þe mete, it vale.
† c. Of a storm: To Abate, cease. Obs.–1
1606. Sylvester, Tropheis, 235, Wks. (Grosart), II. 241. The Stormes that long disturb’d the State are val’d.
6. Of a bonnet or banner: To be doffed or lowered in token of respect or submission.
c. 1550. A pore helpe, 214, in Hazl., E. P. P., III. 260. And telles them suche a tale As makes theyr bonettes vale.
1742. Pope, Dunc., IV. 205. His [i.e., Bentley’s] Hat, which never vail’d to human pride, Walker with rev’rence took, and laid aside.
1826. Mrs. Shelley, Last Man, II. 15. The inhabitants in thousands were assembled to give him hail,… the soldiery presented arms, the banners vailed.
† 7. To drop or sail down stream or with the tide. Also with down. Obs.
1544. St. Papers Hen. VIII., X. 118. Our other shippes, which be already valed.
1553. in Hakluyt, Voy. (1598), I. 234. We departed from Detford, passing by Greenwich … and so valed unto Blackwall.
1598. Hakluyt, Ibid., 367. Wee departed … before Sunne rising and valed down the riuer sometime sailing, and sometime rowing.
† 8. To bow or bend down to the ground in obeisance or salutation. Obs.–1
c. 1593. Marlowe, Hero & Leander, I. 159. There Hero … Vaild to the ground, vailing her eie-lids close, And modestly they opened as she rose.
III. absol. † 9. Naut. To lower the sail. (Cf. 3.) Also in fig. context. Obs.
1512. in Rymer, Foedera (1710), XIII. 330. No Vessell of the Flete vale or plukke doun his Saill unto such tyme as the Admiral hath valed.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Jew of Malta, II. ii. Because we vail’d not to the Turkish Fleet.
1601. B. Jonson, Poetaster, III. iv. What, will he saile by, and not once strike, or vaile to a Man of warre?
1650. Weldon, Crt. Jas. I., 49. A Dutch Man of Warre comming by that Ship, would not vail, as the manner is, acknowledging by that, our Soveraignty over the Sea.
10. To doff or take off the cap or hat (to a person, etc.).
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., V. iv. 1st Cup. The health of that honourable countess…. 2nd Cup. I doe vaile to it with reverence.
1631. Massinger, Emperor East, I. ii. I have … set down, To a hair’s-breadth, how low a new-stamp’d courtier May vail to a country gentleman.
1648. G. Daniel, Poems, Wks. (Grosart), I. 214. Hee [Herbert] the vtmost Fame Has gain’d; and now they vaile, to heare Him Sing.
c. 1700. Pomfret, Poems, Dies Novissima (1736), 9. Straight I finish’d—veiling low.
1753. Richardson, Grandison, II. iv. 39. I would sooner veil to such a Man as this than to a King on his throne.
a. 1845. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. III. Lord of Thoulouse. Knights … Before Count Raymond bend the knee, And vail to him.
transf. 1597. Lyly, Wom. in Moon, V. i. The Iocund trees that vald when she came neare, And … Did seeme to say, ‘Pandora is our Queene.’
11. fig. To submit, yield, give place to (or unto); to acknowledge the superiority or supremacy of.
In freq. use by 17th-c. divines.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 301. All rivers else beside Vaile unto me.
1627. Hakewill, Apol. (1630), 395. To Cæsars Amphitheater all other workes must vaile.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1686), I. 335. These indeed are lofty commendations thereof, yet all of them may worthily veil to this.
1706. De Foe, Jure Divino, x. 232. Vail Satyr to the mighty Edward’s Fame.
1779. T. Hutchinson, Diary, II. 243. The Ministry vail to every measure to humour the people.
1824. L. Murray, Eng. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 525. They all vail to the English idiom, and scruple not to acknowledge its superiority over their own.
b. To do homage to one.
1608. Shaks., Per., IV. Prol. 29. When She would with rich and constant pen Vail to her mistress Dian.
Hence Vailing ppl. a.2
a. 1639. Wotton, in Reliq. (1672), 386. Where surging flouds and valing ebbs can tell That none beyond thy marks must sink or swell.
