The Collaborative International Dictionary
Mail \Mail\ (m[=a]l), n. [OE. male bag, OF. male, F. malle bag, trunk, mail, OHG. malaha, malha, wallet; akin to D. maal, male; cf. Gael. & Ir. mala, Gr. molgo`s hide, skin.]
A bag; a wallet. [Obs.]
--Chaucer.-
The bag or bags with the letters, papers, or other matter contained therein, conveyed under public authority from one post office to another; the whole system of appliances used by government in the conveyance and delivery of mail matter.
There is a mail come in to-day, with letters dated Hague.
--Tatler. That which comes in the mail; letters, etc., received through the post office.
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A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried. [Obs.]
--Sir W. Scott.Mail catcher, an iron rod, or other contrivance, attached to a railroad car for catching a mail bag while the train is in motion.
Mail guard, an officer whose duty it is to guard the public mails. [Eng.]
Mail train, a railroad train carrying the mail.