showery precipitation in the form of irregular pellets or balls of ice more than in. (5 mm) in diameter, falling from a cumulonimbus cloud (distinguished from sleet).
a shower or storm of such precipitation.
a shower of anything: a hail of bullets.
—v.i.
to pour down hail (often used impersonally with it as subject): It hailed this afternoon.
to fall or shower as hail: Arrows hailed down on the troops as they advanced.
—v.t.
to pour down on as or like hail: The plane hailed leaflets on the city.