veil 
(vāl)
(vāl)n.
1.
a. A length of cloth worn over the head, shoulders, and often the face, especially by women.
b. A length of netting attached to a woman's hat or hair worn for decoration or to protect the head and face.
c. A length of protective netting worn over the face by beekeepers.
2.
a. The part of a nun's headdress that frames the face and falls over the shoulders.
b. The life or vows of a nun: assumed the veil.
3. Any of various cloth head coverings worn by Muslim women.
4.
a. A piece of light fabric hung to separate or conceal what is behind it; a curtain.
b. Something that conceals, separates, or screens like a curtain: a veil of secrecy.
5. Biology A membranous covering or part, as that on the developing fruiting body of certain mushrooms; a velum.
v. veiled, veil·ing, veils
v.tr.
1. To cover with or as if with a veil: Dense fog veiled the bridge.
2. To conceal or disguise: a smile that veiled his anger.
v.intr.
To wear a veil.
[Middle English, from Old North French, from Latin vēla, pl. of vēlum, a covering.]