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.
Origin of bale
1
1350–1400;Middle English < Anglo-Latinbala,Anglo-Frenchbale pack, bale < Frankish*balla; compare Old High Germanbalo, akin to ballaball1
to clear of water by dipping (usually followed by out): to bail out a boat.
verb (used without object)
to bail water.
noun
Also bail·er.a bucket, dipper, or other container used for bailing.
Verb Phrases
bail out,
to make a parachute jump from an airplane.
to relieve or assist (a person, company, etc.) in an emergency situation, especially a financial crisis: The corporation bailed out its failing subsidiary through a series of refinancing operations.
to give up on or abandon something, as to evade a responsibility: His partner bailed out before the business failed.
Also bale(for defs 1–3).
Origin of bail
3
1425–75;late Middle Englishbayle < Middle Frenchbaille a bucket < Vulgar Latin*bāi(u)la; akin to Latinbāiulus carrier. See bail1
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 bailorformalforfeit bailto fail to appear in court to answer to a charge
stand bailorgo bailto 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
"bond money," late 15c., a sense that apparently developed from that of "temporary release from jail" (into the custody of another, who gives security), recorded from early 15c. That evolved from earlier meaning "captivity, custody" (early 14c.). From Old French baillier "to control, to guard, deliver" (12c.), from Latin bajulare "to bear a burden," from bajulus "porter," of unknown origin. In late 18c. criminal slang, to give leg bail meant "to run away."
bail
v.1
"to dip water out of," 1610s, from baile (n.) "small wooden bucket" (mid-14c.), from nautical Old French baille "bucket, pail," from Medieval Latin *bajula (aquae), literally "porter of water," from Latin bajulare "to bear a burden" (see bail (n.1)). To bail out "leave suddenly" (intransitive) is recorded from 1930, originally of airplane pilots. Related: Bailed; bailing.
bale
n.
"large bundle or package," early 14c., from Old French bale "rolled-up bundle," from a Germanic source (cf. Old High German balla "ball"), from Proto-Germanic *ball-, from PIE *bhel- (2) "to blow, swell" (see bole).
bail
n.2
"horizontal piece of wood in a cricket wicket," c.1742, originally "any cross bar" (1570s), probably identical with Middle French bail "horizontal piece of wood affixed on two stakes," and with English bail "palisade wall, outer wall of a castle" (see bailey).
bail
v.2
"to procure someone's release from prison" (by posting bail), 1580s, from bail (n.1); usually with out. Related: Bailed; bailing.
