veil

¹veil

noun \ˈvāl\

Definition of VEIL

1

a : a length of cloth worn by women as a covering for the head and shoulders and often especially in Eastern countries for the face; specifically : the outer covering of a nun's headdress b : a length of veiling or netting worn over the head or face or attached for protection or ornament to a hat or headdress <a bridal veil> c : any of various liturgical cloths; especially : a cloth used to cover the chalice

2

: the life of a nun —often used in the phrase take the veil

3

: a concealing curtain or cover of cloth

4

: something that resembles a veil <a veil of stars>; especially : something that hides or obscures like a veil <lift the veil of secrecy>

5

: a covering body part or membrane: as a : velum b : caul

Examples of VEIL

1. Veils of moss draped the trees.
2. <under the veil of descending darkness the thieves began their operation>

Origin of VEIL

Middle English, from Anglo-French veil, veille, from Latin vela, plural of velum sail, awning, curtain

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to VEIL

Synonyms: blanket, cope, cover, covering, coverture, cover-up, curtain, hood, mantle, mask, pall, penumbra, robe, shroud, cloak, wraps

Related Words: blind, concealer, screen, shield; fig leaf, Potemkin village, Trojan horse; camouflage, disguise, facade (also façade), face, mask, veneer; gloss, varnish

[+]more[-]hide

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

Rhymes with VEIL

ail, ale, bail, bale, Bâle, brail, braille, Braille, dale, fail, flail, frail, Gael, gale, Gale, grail, hail, hale, jail, kale, mail, male, nail, pail, pale, quail, Quayle, rail, sail, sale, scale, shale, snail, stale, swale, tael, tail, taille, tale, trail, vail, vale, wail, wale, whale, Yale