(maille), a term primarily applied to the meshes or holes in net-work.

Coat of MAIL. See Coat. It is called also a haubergeon. Anciently they also wore shirts of mail under the waistcoat, to serve as a defence against swords and poniards. We also read of gloves of mail.

Mall, also signifies a round ring of iron; whence the play of pall-mall, from palla "a ball," and maille "the round ring through which it is to pass."

Maille, in our old writers, a small kind of money. Silver half-pence were likewise termed mailles, 9 Hen. V. By indenture in the mint, a pound weight of old sterling silver was to be coined into 360 sterlings or pennies, or 720 mails or half-pennies, or 1440 farthings. Hence the word mail was derived, which is now vulgarly used in Scotland to signify an annual rent.

Mailly, on ship-board, a square machine composed of a number of rings interwoven net-wise, and used for rubbing off the loose hemp which remains on lines or white cordage after it is made.

Mail is likewise used for the leather bag wherein letters are carried by the post.

Mail-Coaches. See Coach.

Action of Mails and Duties, in Scots law. See Law, p. 699, § 7, and p. 712, § 20.

Mail (Black). See Black-Mail.