Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Bail?

\Bail\, n. [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. [Obs.] The bail of a canoe . . . made of a human skull. --Capt. Cook.
\Bail\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bailed} (?); p. pr. & vb. n. {Bailing}.] 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. --R. H. Dana, Jr.
\Bail\, v.?t. [OF. bailler to give, to deliver, fr. L. bajulare to bear a burden, keep in custody, fr. bajulus ? who bears burdens.] 1. To deliver; to release. [Obs.] Ne none there was to rescue her, ne none to bail. --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. Note: 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. (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.
\Bail\, n. [OF. bail guardian, administrator, fr. L. bajulus. See {Bail} to deliver.] 1. Custody; keeping. [Obs.] Silly Faunus now within their bail. --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 surely for his appearance in court. The bail must be real, substantial bondsmen. --Blackstone. A. and B. were bail to the arrest in a suit at law. --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.
\Bail\, n. [OE. beyl; cf. Dan. b["o]ile an bending, ring, hoop, Sw. b["o]gel, 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. --Forby. 2. A half hoop for supporting the cover of a carrier's wagon, awning of a boat, etc.
\Bail\, n. [OF. bail, baille. See {Bailey}.] 1. (Usually pl.) A line of palisades serving as an exterior defense. [Written also {bayle}.] [Obs.] 2. The outer wall of a feudal castle. Hence: The space inclosed by it; the outer court. --Holinshed. 3. A certain limit within a forest. [Eng.] 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.