Etymology Dictionary

MAIL (BLACK),  a forced tribute.  (F.,—L.)   Mail is a Scottish term for rent.   Jamieson cites the phr. burrow-mailles, duties payable within boroughs, from the Acts of Jas. I. c. 8 (A.D. 1424).   Black-maill is mentioned in the Acts of Jas. VI. c. 21 (1567), and in the Acts of Elizabeth, an. 43, cap. 13, as a forced tribute paid to moss-troopers; see Jamieson and Blount.   Spelman is right in supposing that it meant black rent or black money, a jocose allusion to tribute paid in cattle, &c., as distinct from rent paid in silver or white money; Blount shews that the term black money occurs in 9 Edw. III. cap. 4, and white money is not uncommon.   Blount also cites the term black-rents.—F. maille, 'a French halfpenny;' Cot. O. Fr. maaille, meaille.—Low Lat. medalia; see Medal, of which this mail is a doublet.   ¶ Not from A.S. mál (E. mole); nor from A.S. mǽl (E. meal).