bail
UK[beɪl]US[beɪl]
v
to remove water from a boat by using a bucket or other container
v
to secure the release of an arrested person by providing a sum of money as a guarantee they will return for trial
n
the temporary release of an arrested person on payment of such a guarantee
n
a bar on a typewriter or computer printer that holds the paper steady
Etymology
the modern english word 'bail' has a fascinating journey through legal and nautical contexts, stemming from a common root of "carrying a burden." it entered middle english from the old french 'baillier,' meaning "to control, guard, deliver," which itself came from the latin verb 'bajulare,' "to bear a load." the legal sense of securing a prisoner's release by bearing the financial burden of their guarantee emerged in the 15th century. concurrently, the nautical sense of "to scoop water out of a boat" evolved in the 17th century, metaphorically extending the idea of removing a burdensome weight of water.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form. it is a loanword from old french, where it meant "custody, jurisdiction," and ultimately derives from latin bajulare, meaning "to bear a burden."
Examples
we had to bail furiously to keep the dinghy from sinking.
his family posted bail so he could be released until the court date.
the judge set bail at fifty thousand dollars.