cail
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editUnknown. Perhaps from or related to Middle English kayl (“a blow, stroke”). Compare Middle English quale (“death, destruction”), from Old English cwalu (“a quelling with weapons, torment, a violent death, slaughter, destruction”).
Verb
editcail (third-person singular simple present cails, present participle cailing, simple past and past participle cailed)
- (dialectal) To throw, pelt; to throw weakly.
- (dialectal, of a cart) To tilt up or turn over in order to discharge a load.
- (dialectal) To move awkwardly or uncertainly; to gambol, kick out one's heels like a colt.
Derived terms
editOld French
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editFrom Gaulish cagiíum (“enclosure”), from Proto-Celtic *kagyom (“pen, enclosure”) (compare Welsh cae (“hedge”)).
Noun
editcail oblique singular, m (oblique plural cauz or cailz, nominative singular cauz or cailz, nominative plural cail)