noun / verb
hail
HAYL/hˈeɪl/
Pellets of ice falling in a shower.
Small pellets of hail bounce on the paving stone and gather beside a leaf.
Etymology
Old English hægl named both hail and a hailstorm. The modern meaning preserves its reference to ice falling from the sky in pellets.
In context
Hail fell like fists from heaven.
More examples
- It sometimes hails during severe thunderstorms.
- Yesterday's hail left dents in our car.
- The mayor faced a hail of questions from reporters.
Forms
hail · hails · hailed · hailing
hailstone noun — A single pellet of falling ice.
hailstorm noun — A storm in which hail falls.