Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - veii

 geographical name ancient city of Etruria in central Italy NNW of Rome VEIL  I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ~, ~le, from Latin vela, plural of velum sail, awning, curtain  Date: 13th century  1.  a. a length of cloth worn by women as a covering for the head and shoulders and often especially in Eastern countries for the face; specifically the outer covering of a nun's headdress  b. a length of ~ing or netting worn over the head or face or attached for protection or ornament to a hat or headdress a bridal ~  c. any of various liturgical cloths; especially a cloth used to cover the chalice  2. the life of a nun — often used in the phrase take the ~  3. a concealing curtain or cover of cloth  4. something that resembles a ~ a ~ of stars; especially something that hides or obscures like a ~ lift the ~ of secrecy  5. a covering body part or membrane: as  a. velum  b. caul  II. verb  Date: 14th century  transitive verb to cover, provide, obscure, or conceal with or as if with a ~  intransitive verb to put on or wear a ~