Hail

Frozen rain-drops; one of the plagues of Egypt (Ex. 9:23). It is mentioned by Haggai as a divine judgment (Hag. 2:17). A hail-storm destroyed the army of the Amorites when they fought against Joshua (Josh. 10:11). Ezekiel represents the wall daubed with untempered mortar as destroyed by great hail-stones (Ezek. 13:11). (See also 38:22; Rev. 8:7; 11:19; 16:21.)

A salutation expressive of a wish for the welfare of the person addressed; the translation of the Greek Chaire, “Rejoice” (Luke 1:8). Used in mockery in Matt. 27:29.

HAIL. When a very cold current of air encounters a hot and humid one, the vapor of the latter is suddenly condensed into drops, and sometimes these are frozen into irregular spheroids of porous ice, which fall to the earth as hail. This phenomenon is more frequent in temperate than in tropical regions, and usually occurs in summer and at the hottest hour of the day. Hail rarely falls except during thunderstorms; and hence the Bible commonly mentions it in connection with fire (lightning), as in Ps 148:8. As rain was always rare in Egypt, the fall of hail mentioned as the seventh plague, Ex 9, must have been singularly frightful, as it was greatly destructive to man, beast, and herb. God used a storm of hailstones to utterly rout and destroy the Amorites who fought with Joshua at Gibeon, Josh 10. In modern times stones of ice have been known to fall of half a pound in weight, and even eighteen ounces; and were it not that hail-storms are exceedingly local and rarely continue more than five or ten minutes, incalculable destruction would result. The largest hail falls in hot countries, where hail is less frequent. Inspiration often uses this agency figuratively to picture the awful judgments of God. In Rev 16:21 hail-stones are mentioned of a talent in weight, or, if the language were literal, of 55, and perhaps 11 1/2, pounds, according as the Attic or Jewish talent be intended; in all probability the former.

HAIL. When a very cold current of air encounters a hot and humid one, the vapor of the latter is suddenly condensed into drops, and sometimes these are frozen into irregular spheroids of porous ice, which fall to the earth as hail. This phenomenon is more frequent in temperate than in tropical regions, and usually occurs in summer and at the hottest hour of the day. Hail rarely falls except during thunderstorms; and hence the Bible commonly mentions it in connection with fire (lightning), as in Ps 148:8. As rain was always rare in Egypt, the fall of hail mentioned as the seventh plague, Ex 9, must have been singularly frightful, as it was greatly destructive to man, beast, and herb. God used a storm of hailstones to utterly rout and destroy the Amorites who fought with Joshua at Gibeon, Josh 10. In modern times stones of ice have been known to fall of half a pound in weight, and even eighteen ounces; and were it not that hail-storms are

exceedingly local and rarely continue more than five or ten minutes, incalculable destruction would result. The largest hail falls in hot countries, where hail is less frequent. Inspiration often uses this agency figuratively to picture the awful judgments of God. In Rev 16:21 hail-stones are mentioned of a talent in weight, or, if the language were literal, of 55, and perhaps 11 1/2, pounds, according as the Attic or Jewish talent be intended; in all probability the former.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

Small roundish masses of ice precipitated from the clouds, where they are formed by the congelation of vapor. The separate masses or grains are called hailstones. Thunder mixed with hail, Hail mixed with fire, must rend the Egyptian sky. Milton.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

A wish of health; a salutation; a loud call. "Their puissant hail." M. Arnold. The angel hail bestowed. Milton.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To pour down particles of ice, or frozen vapors.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To pour forcibly down, as hail. Shak.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To call loudly to, or after; to accost; to salute; to address.

2. To name; to designate; to call. And such a son as all men hailed me happy. Milton.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To declare, by hailing, the port from which a vessel sails or where she is registered; hence, to sail; to come; -- used with from; as, the steamer hails from New York.

2. To report as one's home or the place from whence one comes; to come; -- with from. [Colloq.] G. G. Halpine.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

Healthy. See Hale (the preferable spelling).

Part of speech: interjection (interj.)

An exclamation of respectful or reverent salutation, or, occasionally, of familiar greeting. "Hail, brave friend." Shak. All hail. See in the Vocabulary. -- Hail Mary, a form of prayer made use of in the Roman Catholic Church in invocation of the Virgin. See Ave Maria.