aiel

noun

ai·​el ˈā(-ə)l 

plural -s

: a writ by which an heir entered into his grandfather's estate and dispossessed the third person who had attempted to gain possession

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, grandfather, from Middle French ael, aiuel, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin aviolus, diminutive of Latin avus grandfather

First Known Use

circa 1598, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!