bale

¹ American  

[beyl] / beɪl /

noun

1. 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.

2. a group of turtles.

---

verb (used with object)

baled, baling

1. to make or form into bales.

   to bale wastepaper for disposal.

bale ² American  

[beyl] / beɪl /

noun

Archaic.

1. evil; harm; misfortune.

2. woe; misery; sorrow.

---

bale ³ American  

[beyl] / beɪl /

noun

1. bail.

---

bale ⁴ American  

[beyl] / beɪl /

verb (used with or without object)

baled, baling

1. a spelling variant of bail.

---

Bâle ⁵ American  

[bahl] / bɑl /

noun

1. French name of Basel.

---

bale ¹ British  

/ beɪl /

noun

1. a large bundle, esp of a raw or partially processed material, bound by ropes, wires, etc, for storage or transportation

   bale of hay

2. a large package or carton of goods

3. 500 pounds of cotton

4. a group of turtles

5. See wool bale

---

verb

1. to make (hay, etc) into a bale or bales

2. to put (goods) into packages or cartons

3. to pack and compress (wool) into wool bales

bale ² British  

/ beɪl /

noun

1. evil; injury

2. woe; suffering; pain

---

Bâle ³ British  

/ bɑl /

noun

1. the French name for Basle

---

bale ⁴ British  

/ beɪl /

verb

1. a variant spelling of bail 2

---

bale ⁵ British  

/ beɪl /

noun

1. a variant spelling of bail 4

---

Other Word Forms

• baleless adjective
• baler noun

Etymology

Origin of bale¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-Latin bala, Anglo-French bale “pack, bale,” from unattested Frankish balla; compare Old High German balo, akin to balla; ball ¹

Origin of bale²

First recorded 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”

Example Sentences

In a noticeable moment from “Cow,” a farmer baling hay strikes his pitchfork against a stone.

From The Wall Street Journal

They asked him about hosting happy hours for the company at the brewery and distillery he is opening downtown, which is now decorated with fall banners and hay bales.

From The Wall Street Journal

There are stacks of hay bales around meant for sheep to eat, now left unused in the yard of the farm and soon to rot.

From BBC

Simon arranged some hay bales in the shape of a seat for her and tucked loose hay all around her legs, too, so that she might sit near him and listen in warmth and comfort.

From Literature

The Herding Machine hauled bales of hay into the pasture and the cows gathered around to eat, steam puffing from their mouths.

From Literature

Related Words

• bundle