\Meal\ (m[=e]l), n. [OE. mele, AS. m[=ae]l part, portion,
portion of time; akin to E. meal a repast. Cf. {Piecemeal}.]
A part; a fragment; a portion. [Obs.]

\Meal\, n. [OE. mel; akin to E. meal a part, and to D. maal
time, meal, G. mal time, mahl meal, Icel. m[=a]l measure,
time, meal, Goth. m[=e]l 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 act
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.

\Meal\, n. [OE. mele, AS. melu, melo; akin to D. meel, G.
mehl, OHG. melo, Icel. mj["o]l, SW. mj["o]l, Dan. meel, also
to D. malen to grind, G. mahlen, OHG., OS., & Goth. malan,
Icel. mala, W. malu, L. molere, Gr. my`lh mill, and E. mill.
[root]108. 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} (Zo["o]l.), the adult of the meal worm. See
   {Meal worm}, below.
{Meal moth} (Zo["o]l.), a lepidopterous insect ({Asopia
   farinalis}), the larv[ae] of which feed upon meal, flour,
   etc.
{Meal worm} (Zo["o]l.), the larva of a beetle ({Tenebrio
   molitor}) which infests granaries, bakehouses, etc., and
   is very injurious to flour and meal.

\Meal\, v. t.
1. To sprinkle with, or as with, meal. --Shak.
2. To pulverize; as, mealed powder.