DEFINITIONS

bale

1
[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR bale ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a large bundle or package prepared for shipping, storage, or sale, especially one tightly compressed and secured by wires, hoops, cords, or the like, and sometimes having a wrapping or covering: a bale of cotton; a bale of hay.
a group of turtles.

verb (used with object), baled, bal·ing.

to make or form into bales: to bale wastepaper for disposal.

Words related to bale

bundle, parcel, package

Words nearby bale

baldwin, baldwin i, baldwin park, baldwin, james, baldy, bale, bale cubic, balearic islands, baleboste, baleen, baleen whale

Origin of bale

1
1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-Latin bala, Anglo-French bale pack, bale < Frankish *balla; compare Old High German balo, akin to balla ball1

OTHER WORDS FROM bale

bale·less, adjectivebal·er, noun

Definition for bale (2 of 7)

bale2
[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /

noun Archaic.

evil; harm; misfortune.
woe; misery; sorrow.

Origin of bale

2
before 1000; Middle English; Old English bealu, balu; cognate with Old Norse bǫl, Old Saxon balu, Old High German balo, Gothic balw-; akin to Russian bolʾ pain, OCS bolŭ ill

Definition for bale (3 of 7)

bale3
[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /

noun

bail2.

Definition for bale (4 of 7)

bale4
[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /

verb (used with or without object), baled, bal·ing.

bail3(defs 1–3).

Definition for bale (5 of 7)

Bâle
[ bahl ]
/ bɑl /

noun

French name of Basel.

Definition for bale (6 of 7)

bail2

or bale

[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /

noun

the semicircular handle of a kettle or pail.
a hooplike support, as for the canvas cover on a Conestoga wagon.
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
1400–50; late Middle English beyl, perhaps < Old Norse; compare Old Norse beyglast to become bent, equivalent to baug(r) ring (see bee2) + *-il noun suffix + -ast middle infinitive suffix

Definition for bale (7 of 7)

Also bale (for defs 1–3).

Origin of bail

3
1425–75; late Middle English bayle < Middle French baille a bucket < Vulgar Latin *bāi(u)la; akin to Latin bāiulus carrier. See bail1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bale

British Dictionary definitions for bale (1 of 9)

bale1
/ (beɪl) /

noun

verb

See also bail out

Word Origin for bale

C14: probably from Old French bale, from Old High German balla ball 1

British Dictionary definitions for bale (2 of 9)

bale2
/ (beɪl) /

noun archaic

evil; injury
woe; suffering; pain

Word Origin for bale

Old English bealu; related to Old Norse böl evil, Gothic balwa, Old High German balo

British Dictionary definitions for bale (3 of 9)

bale3
/ (beɪl) /

verb

a variant spelling of bail 2

British Dictionary definitions for bale (4 of 9)

bale4
/ (beɪl) /

noun

a variant spelling of bail 4

British Dictionary definitions for bale (5 of 9)

Bâle
/ (bɑl) /

noun

the French name for Basle

British Dictionary definitions for bale (6 of 9)

bail1
/ (beɪl) law /

noun

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
the person or persons so binding themselves; surety
the system permitting release of a person from custody where such security has been takenhe was released on bail
jump bail or formal forfeit bail to fail to appear in court to answer to a charge
stand bail or go bail to act as surety (for someone)

verb (tr)

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

Word Origin for bail

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 bale (7 of 9)

bail2

bale

/ (beɪl) /

verb

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

Derived forms of bail

bailer or baler, noun

Word Origin for bail

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

British Dictionary definitions for bale (8 of 9)

bail3
/ (beɪl) /

noun

cricket either of two small wooden bars placed across the tops of the stumps to form the wicket
agriculture
  1. a partition between stalls in a stable or barn, for horses
  2. a portable dairy house built on wheels or skids
Australian and NZ a framework in a cowshed used to secure the head of a cow during milking

verb

See bail up

Word Origin for bail

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

British Dictionary definitions for bale (9 of 9)

bail4

bale

/ (beɪl) /

noun

the semicircular handle of a kettle, bucket, etc
a semicircular support for a canopy
a movable bar on a typewriter that holds the paper against the platen

Word Origin for bail

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

Idioms and Phrases with bale

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.