bailout

or bail-out

[ beyl-out ]
/ ˈbeɪlˌaʊt /

noun

the act of parachuting from an aircraft, especially to escape a crash, fire, etc.
an instance of coming to the rescue, especially financially: a government bailout of a large company.
an alternative, additional choice, or the like: If the highway is jammed, you have two side roads as bailouts.

adjective

of, relating to, or consisting of means for relieving an emergency situation: bailout measures for hard-pressed smallbusinesses.

Origin of bailout

First recorded in 1950–55; noun, adj. use of verb phrase bail out

Definition for bail out (2 of 2)

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

British Dictionary definitions for bail out (1 of 6)

bail out

bale out


verb (adverb)

(intr) to make an emergency parachute jump from an aircraft
(tr) informal to help (a person, organization, etc) out of a predicament the government bailed the company out
(intr) informal to escape from a predicament

British Dictionary definitions for bail out (2 of 6)

bailout
/ (ˈbeɪlaʊt) /

noun

an act of bailing out, usually by the government, of a failing institution or business

British Dictionary definitions for bail out (3 of 6)

bail 1
/ (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 taken he 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 bail out (4 of 6)

bail 2

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 bail out (5 of 6)

bail 3
/ (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 bail out (6 of 6)

bail 4

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

Idioms and Phrases with bail out (1 of 2)

bail out

1

Empty water out of a boat, usually by dipping with a bucket or other container. For example, We had to keep bailing out water from this leaky canoe. [Early 1600s]

2

Rescue someone in an emergency, especially a financial crisis of some kind, as in They were counting on an inheritance to bail them out. [Colloquial; 1900s]

3

Jump out of an airplane, using a parachute. For example, When the second engine sputtered, the pilot decided to bail out. [c. 1930]

4

Give up on something, abandon a responsibility, as in The company was not doing well, so John decided to bail out while he could still find another job. [Second half of 1900s]

5

See make bail.

Idioms and Phrases with bail out (2 of 2)

bail