bail
Noun · VerbOpen English WordNet
Noun (2)
- (criminal law) money that must be forfeited by the bondsman if an accused person fails to appear in court for trial“the judge set bail at $10,000”“a $10,000 bond was furnished by an alderman”Synonyms: bail bondbondType of recognizance, recognisance
- the legal system that allows an accused person to be temporarily released from custody (usually on condition that a sum of money guarantees their appearance at trial)“he is out on bail”Type of legal system
Verb (5)bailed, bailing
- release after a security has been paidMore general free, liberate
- deliver something in trust to somebody for a special purpose and for a limited periodMore general hand over, fork over
- secure the release of (someone) by providing securityMore general guarantee, vouch
- empty (a vessel) by bailingMore general empty
- remove (water) from a vessel with a containerMore general remove, take
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Noun bail, money for temporary release from custody
Noun release from imprisonment on payment of such money
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: F. baille a bucket, pail; cf. LL. bacula, dim. of bacca a sort of vessel. Cf. Bac.
A bucket or scoop used in bailing water out of a boat. obsolete
The bail of a canoe... made of a human skull.— Capt. Cook.
1. To lade; to dip and throw; — usually with out; as, to bail water out of a boat.
Buckets... to bail out the water.— Capt. J. Smith.
2. To dip or lade water from; — often with out to express completeness; as, to bail a boat.
By the help of a small bucket and our hats we bailed her out.— Richard Henry, Jr. Dana
Origin: OF. bailler to give, to deliver, fr. L. bajulare to bear a burden, keep in custody, fr. bajulus he who bears burdens.
1. To deliver; to release. obsolete
Ne none there was to rescue her, ne none to bail.— Edmund Spenser
2. Law (a) To set free, or deliver from arrest, or out of custody, on the undertaking of some other person or persons that he or they will be responsible for the appearance, at a certain day and place, of the person bailed.
☞ The word is applied to the magistrate or the surety. The magistrate bails (but admits to bail is commoner) a man when he liberates him from arrest or imprisonment upon bond given with sureties. The surety bails a person when he procures his release from arrest by giving bond for his appearance. Blackstone, Sir William
(b) To deliver, as goods in trust, for some special object or purpose, upon a contract, expressed or implied, that the trust shall be faithfully executed on the part of the bailee, or person intrusted; as, to bail cloth to a tailor to be made into a garment; to bail goods to a carrier. Blackstone. Kent.
Origin: OF. bail guardian, administrator, fr. L. bajulus. See Bail to deliver.
1. Custody; keeping. obsolete
Silly Faunus now within their bail.— Edmund Spenser
2. Law (a) The person or persons who procure the release of a prisoner from the custody of the officer, or from imprisonment, by becoming surety for his appearance in court.
The bail must be real, substantial bondsmen.— Blackstone, Sir William
A. and B. were bail to the arrest in a suit at law.— James Kent
(b) The security given for the appearance of a prisoner in order to obtain his release from custody of the officer; as, the man is out on bail; to go bail for any one.
Excessive bail ought not to be required.— Blackstone, Sir William
Origin: OE. beyl; cf. Dan. böile a bending, ring, hoop, Sw. bögel, bygel, and Icel. beyla hump, swelling, akin to E. bow to bend.
1. The arched handle of a kettle, pail, or similar vessel, usually movable. Robert Forby
2. A half hoop for supporting the cover of a carrier's wagon, awning of a boat, etc.
Origin: OF. bail, baille. See Bailey.
1. (Usually pl.) A line of palisades serving as an exterior defense. [Written also bayle.] obsolete
2. The outer wall of a feudal castle. Hence: The space inclosed by it; the outer court. Raphael Holinshed
3. A certain limit within a forest. British
4. A division for the stalls of an open stable.
5. Cricket The top or cross piece (or either of the two cross pieces) of the wicket.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54