English
vail
Vail comes from Middle English valen ‘to (cause to) sink or drop’.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500valen‘to (cause to) sink or drop’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1515–1516vail
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500valen‘to (cause to) sink or drop’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1515–1516vail
Earliest quotation: c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton: “Then let them vale a bonet of their proud…”
Every English word from Middle English valen
Today it means
noun Submission.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English valen / vail