bail

1
[ beyl ]
See synonyms for: bailbailedbailing on Thesaurus.com
noun

  1. property or money given as surety that a person released from custody will return at an appointed time.

  2. the person who agrees to be liable if someone released from custody does not return at an appointed time.

  1. the state of release upon being bailed.

verb (used with object)

  1. to grant or obtain the liberty of (a person under arrest) on security given for their appearance when required, such as in court for trial.

  2. to deliver possession of (goods) for storage, hire, or other special purpose, without transfer of ownership.

Idioms about bail

  1. go / stand bail for, to provide bail for: They spent the night in jail because no one would stand bail for them.

  2. jump bail, to fail to return while free on bail: The suspect jumped bail and is now being sought.

  1. on bail, (of a temporarily released person under arrest) having provided bail: He was out on bail within 10 hours of his arrest.

Origin of bail

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English bayle, from Anglo-French bail “custody, charge,” from Old French, noun derivative of baillier “to hand over,” from Latin bāiulāre “to serve as porter,” verbal derivative of bāiulus “porter,” perhaps a Latin borrowing from Moesia, from unattested ba(r)i- “carry”; see bear1

Words Nearby bail

Other definitions for bail (2 of 4)

bail2
[ beyl ]
noun

  1. the semicircular handle of a kettle or pail.

  2. a hooplike support, as for the canvas cover on a Conestoga wagon.

  1. a metal band or bar equipped with rollers for holding a sheet or sheets of paper against the platen of a printing press, typewriter, etc.

Origin of bail

2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English beyl, perhaps from Old Norse; compare Old Norse beyglast “to become bent,” equivalent to baug(r) “ring” (see bee2) + unattested -il noun suffix + -ask reflexive infinitive suffix
  • Rarely bale .

Other definitions for bail (3 of 4)

bail3
[ beyl ]
verb (used with object)

  1. to dip (water) out of a boat, as with a bucket.

  2. to clear of water by dipping (usually followed by out): to bail out a boat.

  1. to relieve or assist (a person, company, etc.) in an emergency situation, especially a financial crisis (often followed by out): The corporation bailed out its failing subsidiary through a series of refinancing operations.

verb (used without object)

  1. to clear a boat of water, as with a bucket: They flipped the canoe back to its upright position and started bailing rapidly.

  2. to make a parachute jump from an airplane (often followed by out).

  1. to give up on or abandon something, as to evade a responsibility (often followed by out): My cousin volunteered to help but bailed at the last minute.

noun

  1. Also bailer. a bucket, dipper, or other container used for bailing.

Origin of bail

3
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English bayle, from Middle French baille “a bucket,” from unattested Vulgar Latin bāi(u)la; akin to Latin bāiulus “carrier”; see bail1
  • Also bale (for defs. 1, 2, 4) .

Other definitions for bail (4 of 4)

bail4
[ beyl ]
noun

  1. Cricket. either of the two small bars or sticks laid across the tops of the stumps which form the wicket.

  2. British, Australian. a bar, framework, partition, or the like, for confining or separating cows, horses, etc., in a stable.

  1. bails, Obsolete. the wall of an outer court of a feudal castle.

Verb Phrases

  1. bail up, Australian.

    • to confine a cow for milking, as in a bail.

    • to force (one) to surrender or identify oneself or to state one's business.

    • to waylay or rob (someone).

Origin of bail

4
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English baile, from Old French, from Latin bacula, plural of baculum “stick”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bail in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bail (1 of 4)

bail1

/ (beɪl) law /

noun

  1. a sum of money by which a person is bound to take responsibility for the appearance in court of another person or himself or herself, forfeited if the person fails to appear

  2. the person or persons so binding themselves; surety

  1. the system permitting release of a person from custody where such security has been taken: he was released on bail

  2. jump bail or formal forfeit bail to fail to appear in court to answer to a charge

  3. stand bail or go bail to act as surety (for someone)

verb(tr)

  1. (often foll by out) to release or obtain the release of (a person) from custody, security having been made

Origin of bail

1
C14: from Old French: custody, from baillier to hand over, from Latin bāiulāre to carry burdens, from bāiulus carrier, of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for bail (2 of 4)

bail2

bale

/ (beɪl) /

verb

  1. (often foll by out) to remove (water) from (a boat)

Origin of bail

2
C13: from Old French baille bucket, from Latin bāiulus carrier

Derived forms of bail

  • bailer or baler, noun

British Dictionary definitions for bail (3 of 4)

bail3

/ (beɪl) /

noun

  1. cricket either of two small wooden bars placed across the tops of the stumps to form the wicket

  2. agriculture

    • a partition between stalls in a stable or barn, for horses

    • a portable dairy house built on wheels or skids

  1. Australian and NZ a framework in a cowshed used to secure the head of a cow during milking

verb

  1. See bail up

Origin of bail

3
C18: from Old French baile stake, fortification, probably from Latin baculum stick

British Dictionary definitions for bail (4 of 4)

bail4

bale

/ (beɪl) /

noun

  1. the semicircular handle of a kettle, bucket, etc

  2. a semicircular support for a canopy

  1. a movable bar on a typewriter that holds the paper against the platen

Origin of bail

4
C15: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse beygja to bend

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with bail

bail

In addition to the idiom beginning with bail

  • bail out

also see:

  • make bail
  • out on bail
  • skip bail

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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