gaol

[ jeyl ]
/ dʒeɪl /

noun, verb (used with object) British.

jail.

OTHER WORDS FROM gaol

gaol·er, noun un·der·gaol·er, noun

Words nearby gaol

gantt chart, ganymeda, ganymede, gao, gao xingjian, gaol, gaon, gaoxiong, gap, gap 1, gap 2

Definition for gaol (2 of 2)

jail
[ jeyl ]
/ dʒeɪl /

noun

a prison, especially one for the detention of persons awaiting trial or convicted of minor offenses.

verb (used with object)

to take into or hold in lawful custody; imprison.
Also British, gaol.

Origin of jail

1225–75; Middle English gaiole, jaiole, jaile < Old North French gaiole, Old French jaiole cage < Vulgar Latin *gaviola, variant of *caveola, diminutive of Latin cavea cage; see -ole1

OTHER WORDS FROM jail

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH jail

jail prison

Example sentences from the Web for gaol

British Dictionary definitions for gaol (1 of 2)

gaol
/ (dʒeɪl) /

noun, verb

British a variant spelling of jail

Derived forms of gaol

gaoler, noun

British Dictionary definitions for gaol (2 of 2)

jail

gaol

/ (dʒeɪl) /

noun

a place for the confinement of persons convicted and sentenced to imprisonment or of persons awaiting trial to whom bail is not granted
get out of jail or get out of jail free informal to get out of a difficult situation

verb

(tr) to confine in prison

Derived forms of jail

jailless or gaolless, adjective jail-like or gaol-like, adjective

Word Origin for jail

C13: from Old French jaiole cage, from Vulgar Latin caveola (unattested), from Latin cavea enclosure; see cage : the two spellings derive from the forms of the word that developed in two different areas of France, and the spelling gaol represents a pronunciation in use until the 17th century