bail

¹bail

noun \ˈbāl\

Definition of BAIL

: a container used to remove water from a boat

Origin of BAIL

Middle English baille, from Anglo-French, bucket, from Medieval Latin bajula water vessel, from feminine of Latin bajulus porter, carrier

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with BAIL

ail, ale, bale, Bâle, brail, braille, Braille, dale, fail, flail, frail, Gael, gale, Gale, grail, hail, hale, jail, kale, mail, male, nail, pail, pale, quail, Quayle, rail, sail, sale, scale, shale, snail, stale, swale, tael, tail, taille, tale, trail, vail, vale, veil, wail, wale, whale, Yale

²bail

verb

Definition of BAIL

transitive verb

1

: to clear (water) from a boat by dipping and throwing over the side —usually used with out

2

: to clear water from by dipping and throwing —usually used with out

intransitive verb

: bail out 2

— bail·er noun

First Known Use of BAIL

1613

³bail

noun

Definition of BAIL

1

: the temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for security given for the due appearance of the prisoner

2

: security given for the release of a prisoner on bail

3

: one who provides bail

Origin of BAIL

Middle English, custody, bail, from Anglo-French, literally, handing over, delivery, from baillier to give, entrust, hand over, from Latin bajulare to carry a burden, from bajulus porter, carrier

First Known Use: 15th century

⁴bail

transitive verb

Definition of BAIL

1

: to release under bail

2

: to procure the release of by giving bail —often used with out

3

: to help from a predicament —used with out <bailing out impoverished countries>

— bail·able adjective

First Known Use of BAIL

1548

⁵bail

noun

Definition of BAIL

1

a : a supporting half hoop

b : a hinged bar for holding paper against the platen of a typewriter

2

: a usually arched handle (as of a kettle or pail)

Origin of BAIL

Middle English beil, baile, probably from Old English *begel, *bygel; akin to Middle Dutch beughel iron ring, hilt guard; akin to Old English būgan to bend — more at bow

First Known Use: 15th century

⁶bail

transitive verb

Definition of BAIL

: to deliver (personal property) in trust to another for a special purpose and for a limited period

Origin of BAIL

Anglo-French baillier

First Known Use: 1768

⁷bail

noun

Definition of BAIL

chiefly British

: a device for confining or separating animals

Origin of BAIL

perhaps from ⁵bail

First Known Use: 1844

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

bail

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for security given to guarantee the prisoner's appearance at a later hearing. It also refers to the actual security given (e.g., cash). Its main use today is to secure the freedom, pending trial, of someone arrested and charged with a criminal offense. Its use in civil (noncriminal) cases is far less common, as most do not involve imprisonment. The amount of bail is generally set in relation to the gravity of the offense, though other factors, such as the strength of the evidence, the character of the accused, and the accused's ability to secure bail may also be considered. See also bond, recognizance.