From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
bail
n 1: (criminal law) money that must be forfeited by the bondsman
if an accused person fails to appear in court for trial;
"the judge set bail at $10,000"; "a $10,000 bond was
furnished by an alderman" [syn: bail bond, bond]
2: the legal system that allows an accused person to be
temporarily released from custody (usually on condition
that a sum of money guarantees their appearance at trial);
"he is out on bail"
v 1: release after a security has been paid
2: deliver something in trust to somebody for a special purpose
and for a limited period
3: secure the release of (someone) by providing security
4: empty (a vessel) by bailing
5: remove (water) from a vessel with a container
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Bail \Bail\ (b[=a]l), 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.]
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The bail of a canoe . . . made of a human skull.
--Capt. Cook.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Bail \Bail\, n. [OE. beyl; cf. Dan. b["o]ile a 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.
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2. A half hoop for supporting the cover of a carrier's wagon,
awning of a boat, etc.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Bail \Bail\, n. [OF. bail, baille. See Bailey.]
1. (Usually pl.) A line of palisades serving as an exterior
defense. [Written also bayle.] [Obs.]
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2. The outer wall of a feudal castle. Hence: The space
inclosed by it; the outer court. --Holinshed.
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3. A certain limit within a forest. [Eng.]
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4. A division for the stalls of an open stable.
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5. (Cricket) The top or cross piece (or either of the two
cross pieces) of the wicket.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Bail \Bail\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bailed (b[=a]ld); p. pr. &
vb. n. Bailing.]
1. To lade; to dip and throw; -- usually with out; as, to
bail water out of a boat.
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Buckets . . . to bail out the water. --Capt. J.
Smith.
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2. To dip or lade water from; -- often with out to express
completeness; as, to bail a boat.
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By the help of a small bucket and our hats we bailed
her out. --R. H. Dana,
Jr.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Bail \Bail\, n. [OF. bail guardian, administrator, fr. L.
bajulus. See Bail to deliver.]
1. Custody; keeping. [Obs.]
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Silly Faunus now within their bail. --Spenser.
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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 surety for his appearance in
court.
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The bail must be real, substantial bondsmen.
--Blackstone.
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A. and B. were bail to the arrest in a suit at
law. --Kent.
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(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.
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Excessive bail ought not to be required.
--Blackstone.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Bail \Bail\, v. t. [OF. bailler to give, to deliver, fr. L.
bajulare to bear a burden, keep in custody, fr. bajulus he
who bears burdens.]
1. To deliver; to release. [Obs.]
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Ne none there was to rescue her, ne none to bail.
--Spenser.
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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.
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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.
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(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.
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