Meal (?), n. [OE. mele, AS. ml part, portion, portion of time; akin to E. meal a repast. Cf. Piecemeal.]

A part; a fragment; a portion.

[Obs.]

 

© Webster 1913.


Meal, n. [OE. mel; akin to E. meal a part, and to D. maal time, meal, G. mal time, mahl meal, Icel. mal measure, time, meal, Goth. ml time, and to E. measure. See Measure.]

The portion of food taken at a particular time for the satisfaction of appetite; the quantity usually taken at one time with the purpose of satisfying hunger; a repast; the ac or time of eating a meal; as, the traveler has not eaten a good meal for a week; there was silence during the meal.

What strange fish Hath made his meal on thee ? Shak.

 

© Webster 1913.


Meal, n. [OE. mele, AS. melu, melo; akin to D. meel, G. mehl, OHG. melo, Icel. mjol, SW. mjol, Dan. meel, also to D. malen to grind, G. mahlen, OHG., OS., & Goth. malan, Icel. mala, W. malu, L. molere, Gr. mill, and E. mill. . Cf. Mill, Mold soil, Mole an animal, Immolate, Molar.]

1.

Grain (esp. maize, rye, or oats) that is coarsely ground and unbolted; also, a kind of flour made from beans, pease, etc.; sometimes, any flour, esp. if coarse.

2.

Any substance that is coarsely pulverized like meal, but not granulated.

Meal beetle Zool., the adult of the meal worm. See Meal worm, below. -- Meal moth Zool., a lepidopterous insect (Asopia farinalis), the larvae of which feed upon meal, flour, etc. -- Meal worm Zool., the larva of a beetle (Tenebrio molitor) which infests granaries, bakehouses, etc., and is very injurious to flour and meal.

 

© Webster 1913.


Meal, v. t.

1.

To sprinkle with, or as with, meal.

Shak.

2.

To pulverize; as, mealed powder.

 

© Webster 1913.