bail

/beɪ̯l/
/beɪ̯l/
/beɪ̯l/
/beɪ̯l/
/beɪ̯l/
/beɪ̯l/
/beɪ̯l/
/beɪ̯l/
/beɪ̯l/

noun

  1. Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that person's appearance for trial.

  2. Release from imprisonment on payment of such money.

  3. The person providing such payment.

  4. A bucket or scoop used for removing water from a boat etc.

  5. A person who bails water out of a boat.

  6. Custody; keeping.

verb

  1. To secure the release of an arrested person by providing bail.

  2. To release a person under such guarantee.

  3. To hand over personal property to be held temporarily by another as a bailment.

    "to bail cloth to a tailor to be made into a garment; to bail goods to a carrier"

  4. To remove (water) from a boat by scooping it out.

    "to bail water out of a boat"

  5. To remove water from (a boat) by scooping it out.

    "to bail a boat"

  6. To set free; to deliver; to release.

verb

  1. To exit quickly.

    "With his engine in flames, the pilot had no choice but to bail."

  2. To fail to meet a commitment.

noun

  1. A hoop, ring or handle (especially of a kettle or bucket).

  2. A stall for a cow (or other animal) (usually tethered with a semi-circular hoop).

  3. A hinged bar as a restraint for animals, or on a typewriter.

  4. A frame to restrain a cow during milking or feeding.

  5. A hoop, ring, or other object used to connect a pendant to a necklace.

  6. One of the two wooden crosspieces that rest on top of the stumps to form a wicket.

  7. (furniture) Normally curved handle suspended between sockets as a drawer pull. This may also be on a kettle or pail.

verb

  1. To secure the head of a cow during milking.

verb

  1. To confine.

  2. To secure (a cow) by placing its head in a bail for milking.

  3. To keep (a traveller) detained in order to rob them; to corner (a wild animal); loosely, to detain, hold up. (Usually with up.)