bail1

[beyl] /beɪl/
noun
1.
property or money given as surety that a person released from custody will return at an appointed time.
2.
the person who agrees to be liable if someone released from custody does not return at an appointed time.
3.
the state of release upon being bailed.
4.
on bail, released or free as a result of having posted bond:
He was out on bail within 10 hours of his arrest.
verb (used with object)
5.
to grant or obtain the liberty of (a person under arrest) on security given for his or her appearance when required, as in court for trial.
6.
to deliver possession of (goods) for storage, hire, or other special purpose, without transfer of ownership.
Idioms
7.
go / stand bail for, to provide bail for:
They spent the night in jail because no one would stand bail for them.
8.
jump bail, to abscond while free on bail:
The suspect jumped bail and is now being sought.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English bayle < Anglo-French bail custody, charge < Old French, noun derivative of baillier to hand over < Latin bāiulāre to serve as porter verbal derivative of bāiulus porter, perhaps an Imperial Latin borrowing from Moesia < *ba(r)i̯- carry (akin to Albanian m-ba hold) < *bhor-i̯-; see bear1
British Dictionary definitions for jump bail

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 jump bail

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 jump bail

jump bail

verb phrase

To default on one's bail (1872+ Underworld)


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 jump bail

jump bail

see: skip bail

bail

In addition to the idiom beginning with
bail
also see: