bail4

[beyl] /beɪl/
noun
1.
Cricket. either of the two small bars or sticks laid across the tops of the stumps which form the wicket.
2.
British, Australian. a bar, framework, partition, or the like, for confining or separating cows, horses, etc., in a stable.
3.
bails, Obsolete. the wall of an outer court of a feudal castle.
Verb phrases
4.
bail up, Australian.
  1. to confine a cow for milking, as in a bail.
  2. to force (one) to surrender or identify oneself or to state one's business.
  3. to waylay or rob (someone).
Idioms
5.
bail up!, Australian. (the cry of challenge of a pioneer or person living in the bush.)
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English baile < Old French < Latin bacula, plural of baculum stick
British Dictionary definitions for bail up

bail up

verb (adverb)
1.
(Austral & NZ, informal) to confine (a cow) or (of a cow) to be confined by the head in a bail See bail3
2.
(transitive) (Austral, history) (of a bushranger) to hold under guard in order to rob
3.
(intransitive) (Austral) to submit to robbery without offering resistance
4.
(transitive) (Austral, informal) to accost or detain, esp in conversation; buttonhole

bail1

/beɪl/
noun
1.
a sum of money by which a person is bound to take responsibility for the appearance in court of another person or himself or herself, forfeited if the person fails to appear
2.
the person or persons so binding themselves; surety
3.
the system permitting release of a person from custody where such security has been taken: he was released on bail
4.
jump bail, (formal) forfeit bail, to fail to appear in court to answer to a charge
5.
stand bail, go bail, to act as surety (for someone)
verb (transitive)
6.
(often foll by out) to release or obtain the release of (a person) from custody, security having been made
See also bail out
Word Origin
C14: from Old French: custody, from baillier to hand over, from Latin bāiulāre to carry burdens, from bāiulus carrier, of obscure origin

bail2

/beɪl/
verb
1.
(often foll by out) to remove (water) from (a boat)
Derived Forms
bailer, baler, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French baille bucket, from Latin bāiulus carrier

bail3

/beɪl/
noun
1.
(cricket) either of two small wooden bars placed across the tops of the stumps to form the wicket
2.
(agriculture)
  1. a partition between stalls in a stable or barn, for horses
  2. a portable dairy house built on wheels or skids
3.
(Austral & NZ) a framework in a cowshed used to secure the head of a cow during milking
verb
4.
See bail up
Word Origin
C18: from Old French baile stake, fortification, probably from Latin baculum stick

bail4

/beɪl/
noun
1.
the semicircular handle of a kettle, bucket, etc
2.
a semicircular support for a canopy
3.
a movable bar on a typewriter that holds the paper against the platen
Word Origin
C15: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse beygja to bend
Word Origin and History for bail up

bail

n.

"bond money," late 15c., a sense that apparently developed from that of "temporary release from jail" (into the custody of another, who gives security), recorded from early 15c. That evolved from earlier meaning "captivity, custody" (early 14c.). From Old French baillier "to control, to guard, deliver" (12c.), from Latin bajulare "to bear a burden," from bajulus "porter," of unknown origin. In late 18c. criminal slang, to give leg bail meant "to run away."

"horizontal piece of wood in a cricket wicket," c.1742, originally "any cross bar" (1570s), probably identical with Middle French bail "horizontal piece of wood affixed on two stakes," and with English bail "palisade wall, outer wall of a castle" (see bailey).

v.

"to dip water out of," 1610s, from baile (n.) "small wooden bucket" (mid-14c.), from nautical Old French baille "bucket, pail," from Medieval Latin *bajula (aquae), literally "porter of water," from Latin bajulare "to bear a burden" (see bail (n.1)). To bail out "leave suddenly" (intransitive) is recorded from 1930, originally of airplane pilots. Related: Bailed; bailing.

"to procure someone's release from prison" (by posting bail), 1580s, from bail (n.1); usually with out. Related: Bailed; bailing.

Slang definitions & phrases for bail up

bail

verb

To leave; cut out, split: Bruce has bailed from the scene entirely/ Most of my friends had bailed to stay with other relatives

Related Terms

jump bail

[1970s+ college students; fr bail out]


Idioms and Phrases with bail up

bail

In addition to the idiom beginning with
bail
also see: