bail

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Money paid so that an arrested person can be released until their trial, promising they will return to court.

   The judge set bail at ten thousand dollars.

2. 2
   verb

   To pay money to get someone released from jail until their trial.

   She bailed her brother out after he was arrested.

3. 3
   verb

   To scoop water out of a boat to stop it from sinking.

   We bailed frantically to keep the rowboat from going under.

From Middle English baille, from the Old French verb bailler (“to deliver or hand over”) and noun bail (“lease”), from Latin bāiulāre (“carry or bear”), from baiulus (“porter; steward”) (English: bailiff).

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