bail

n. [ OE. beyl; cf. Dan. böile a bending, ring, hoop, Sw. bögel, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A half hoop for supporting the cover of a carrier's wagon, awning of a boat, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. bail, baille. See Bailey. ] 1. (Usually pl.) A line of palisades serving as an exterior defense. [ Written also bayle. ] [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The outer wall of a feudal castle. Hence: The space inclosed by it; the outer court. Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A certain limit within a forest. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A division for the stalls of an open stable. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Cricket) The top or cross piece (or either of the two cross pieces) of the wicket. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. bail guardian, administrator, fr. L. bajulus. See Bail to deliver. ] 1. Custody; keeping. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Silly Faunus now within their bail. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bail must be real, substantial bondsmen. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

A. and B. were bail to the arrest in a suit at law. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

(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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Excessive bail ought not to be required. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The bail of a canoe . . . made of a human skull. Capt. Cook. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Ne none there was to rescue her, ne none to bail. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

(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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having the right or privilege of being admitted to bail, upon bond with sureties; -- used of persons. “He's bailable, I'm sure.” Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Admitting of bail; as, a bailable offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That can be delivered in trust; as, bailable goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Law) (a) A bond or obligation given by a prisoner and his surety, to insure the prisoner's appearance in court, at the return of the writ. (b) Special bail in court to abide the judgment. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. baillé, p. p. of bailler. See Bail to deliver. ] (Law) The person to whom goods are committed in trust, and who has a temporary possession and a qualified property in them, for the purposes of the trust. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In penal statutes the word includes those who receive goods for another in good faith. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]