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gaol

American  
[jeyl] / dʒeɪl /

noun

British.
  1. jail.


gaol British  
/ dʒeɪl /

noun

  1. a variant spelling of jail

"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

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Duer was dragged to the gaol on March 23, trailed by mobs of creditors, including members of the city’s most prominent families.

From Barron's • Mar. 1, 2026

For a city boy like Robert, the place was, Summerscale writes, “both gaol and sanctuary, fortress and enchanted castle.”

From Slate • Jul. 22, 2016

The prisoners included men, women and children, with each group segregated within the new gaol.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2016

Saif was instrumental in persuading his father to compensate the victims of Lockerbie and later, when al-Megrahi was released from a Scottish gaol, it was Saif who brought him back to Tripoli.

From The Guardian • Aug. 5, 2015

As secure as a gaol, the dwarf thought bitterly, but at least there are those windows.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

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