bail

1
[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /
Law.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR bail ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

property or money given as surety that a person released from custody will return at an appointed time.
the person who agrees to be liable if someone released from custody does not return at an appointed time.
the state of release upon being bailed.
on bail, released or free as a result of having posted bond: He was out on bail within 10 hours of his arrest.

verb (used with object)

to grant or obtain the liberty of (a person under arrest) on security given for his or her appearance when required, as in court for trial.
to deliver possession of (goods) for storage, hire, or other special purpose, without transfer of ownership.

Idioms for bail

    go/stand bail for, to provide bail for: They spent the night in jail because no one would stand bail for them.
    jump bail, to abscond while free on bail: The suspect jumped bail and is now being sought.

Origin of bail

1
1375–1425; late Middle English bayle < Anglo-French bail custody, charge < Old French, noun derivative of baillier to hand over < Latin bāiulāre to serve as porter verbal derivative of bāiulus porter, perhaps an Imperial Latin borrowing from Moesia < *ba(r)i̯- carry (akin to Albanian m-ba hold) < *bhor-i̯-; see bear1

Words nearby bail

baiae, baidarka, baigneuse, baikal, baikonur, bail, bail bond, bail bondsman, bail out, bail up, bailable

Words related to jump bail

escape, flee

British Dictionary definitions for jump bail (1 of 4)

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 jump bail (2 of 4)

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 jump bail (3 of 4)

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 jump bail (4 of 4)

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 jump bail (1 of 2)

jump bail

see skip bail.

Idioms and Phrases with jump bail (2 of 2)

bail