The veil of the temple was rent in twain. --Matt.
xxvii. 51.
She, as a veil down to the slender waist, Her
unadorn['e]d golden tresses wore. --Milton.
2. A cover; disguise; a mask; a pretense.
[I will] pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the
so seeming Mistress Page. --Shak.
3. (Bot.)
(a) The calyptra of mosses.
(b) A membrane connecting the margin of the pileus of a
mushroom with the stalk; -- called also {velum}.
4. (Eccl.) A covering for a person or thing; as, a nun's
veil; a paten veil; an altar veil.
5. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Velum}, 3.
{To take the veil} (Eccl.), to receive or be covered with, a
veil, as a nun, in token of retirement from the world; to
become a nun.
2. (Bot.)
(a) See {Veil}, n., 3
(b) .
(b) A thin membrane surrounding the sporocarps of
quillworts {Isoetes}).
3. (Zo["o]l.) A veil-like organ or part. Especially:
(a) The circular membrane that partially incloses the
space beneath the umbrella of hydroid medus[ae].
(b) A delicate funnel-like membrane around the flagellum
of certain Infusoria. See Illust. a of {Protozoa}.