cail

See also: Cail, càil, and cáil

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Unknown. 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

cail (third-person singular simple present cails, present participle cailing, simple past and past participle cailed)

  1. (dialectal) To throw, pelt; to throw weakly.
  2. (dialectal, of a cart) To tilt up or turn over in order to discharge a load.
  3. (dialectal) To move awkwardly or uncertainly; to gambol, kick out one's heels like a colt.

Derived terms

  • cail along

Old French

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Gaulish cagiíum (enclosure), from Proto-Celtic *kagyom (pen, enclosure) (compare Welsh cae (hedge)).

Noun

cail oblique singular, m (oblique plural cauz or cailz, nominative singular cauz or cailz, nominative plural cail)

  1. quay; wharf

Descendants

  • French: quai
  • Middle English: keye
  • Irish:
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