Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HAIL, v. [an exclamation, or rather a verb in the imperative mode, being the adjective hail, used as a verb.]

Hail, be well; be in health; health to you; a term of salutation, equivalent to L. salve, salvete. Hail, hail, brave friend. Shak.

HAIL, v.i.

To pour down masses of ice or frozen vapors.

HAIL, v.t. [from the same root as call, L. calo, Gr. καλεω. See Call and Heal.]

To call; to call to a person at a distance, to arrest his attention. It is properly used in any case where the person accosted is distant, but is appropriately used by seamen. Hoa or hoi, the ship ahoay, is the usual manner of hailing; to which the answer is holloa, or hollo. Then follow the usual questions, whence came ye? where are you bound? &c.

HAIL, v.t.

To pour. Shak.

HAIL'ED, pp.

Called to from a distance; accosted.

HAIL'-FEL-LOW, n.

An intimate companion.

HAIL'ING, ppr.

1. Saluting; calling to from a distance.
2. Pouring down hail.

HAIL'SHOT, n.

Small shot which scatter like hailstones. [Not used.] Hayward.

HAIL'STONE, n.

A single mass of ice falling from a cloud. Dryden.

HAIL'Y, a.

Consisting of hail; as, haily showers. Pope.

HAIN'OUS, a. [Fr. haineux, from haine, hatred. Qu. Gr. αινος.]

Properly, hateful; odious. Hence, great, enormous, aggravated; as, a hainous sin or crime. Mitford.

HAIN'OUS-LY, adv.

Hatefully; abominably; enormously.

HAIN'OUS-NESS, n.

Odiousness; enormity; as, the hainousness of theft or robbery, or of any crime.

HAIR, n. [Sax. hær; G. haar; D. hair; Sw. hår; Dan. haar.]

1. A small filament issuing from the skin of an animal, and from a bulbous root. Each filament contains a tube or hollow within, occupied by a pulp or pith, which is intended for its nutrition, and extends only to that part which is in a state of growth. Cyc. When hair means a single filament, it has a plural, hairs.
2. The collection or mass of filaments growing from the skin of an animal, and forming an integument or covering; as, the hair of the head. Hair is the common covering of many beasts. When the filaments are very fine and short, the collection of them is called fur. Wool, also, is a kind of hair. When hair signifies a collection of these animal filaments, it has no plural.
3. Any thing very small or fine; or a very small distance; the breadth of a hair. He judges to a hair, that is, very exactly. Dryden.
4. A trifling, value. It is not worth a hair.
5. Course; order; grin; the hair falling in a certain direction. [Not used.] You go against the hair of your profession. Shak.
6. Long, straight and distinct filaments, on the surface of plants; a species of down or pubescence. Martyn.

HAIR'-BELL, n.

A plant, a species of hyacinth.

HAIR'-BRAIN-ED, a. [See HARE-BRAINED.]

HAIR'-BREADTH, n. [See Breadth.]

The diameter or breadth of a hair; a very small distance. Seven hundred chosen men left-handed: every one could sling stones to a hair-breadth. Judges xx. It is used as an adjective; as, a hair-breadth escape. But in New England, it is generally hair's breadth.

HAIR'CLOTH, n.

Stuff or cloth made of hair, or in part with hair. In military affairs, pieces of this cloth are used for covering the powder in wagons, or on batteries, or for covering charged bombs, &c. Encyc.

HAIR'ED, a.

Having hair.

HAIR'-HUNG, a.

Hanging by a hair. Young.

HAIR'I-NESS, n. [from hairy.]

The state of abounding or being covered with hair. Johnson.

HAIR'-LACE, n.

A fillet for tying up the hair of the head. Swift.

HAIR'LESS, a.

Destitute of hair; bald; as, hairless scalps. Shak.

HAIR'PIN, n.

A pin used in dressing the hair.

HAIR'-POW-DER, n.

A fine powder of flour for sprinkling the hair of the head.