Veil (?), n. [OE. veile, OF. veile, F. voile, L. velum a sail, covering, curtain, veil, probably fr. vehere to bear, carry, and thus originally, that which bears the ship on. See Vehicle, and cf. Reveal.] [Written also vail.]
1.
Something hung up, or spread out, to intercept the view, and hide an object; a cover; a curtain; esp., a screen, usually of gauze, crape, or similar diaphnous material, to hide or protect the face.
The veil of the temple was rent in twain.
Matt. xxvii. 51.
She, as a veil down to the slender waist,
Her unadorn'ed golden tresses wore.
Milton.
2.
A cover; disguise; a mask; a pretense.
[I will] pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page.
Shak.
3. Bot.
- The calyptra of mosses.
- A membrane connecting the margin of the pileus of a mushroom with the stalk; -- called also velum.
4. Eccl.
A covering for a person or thing; as, a nun's veil; a paten veil; an altar veil.
5. Zool.
Same as Velum, 3.
To take the veil Eccl., to receive or be covered with, a veil, as a nun, in token of retirement from the world; to become a nun.
© Webster 1913.
Veil (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Veiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Veiling.] [Cf. OF. veler, F. voiler, L. velarc. See Veil, n.] [Written also vail.]
1.
To throw a veil over; to cover with a veil.
Her face was veiled; yet to my fancied sight,
Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined.
Milton.
2.
Fig.: To invest; to cover; to hide; to conceal.
To keep your great pretenses veiled.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.