Bail (bāl), 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.]
The bail of a canoe . . . made of a human skull.
Capt. Cook.
Bail, n. [OF. bail guardian,
administrator, fr. L. bajulus. See Bail to deliver.]
1. Custody; keeping. [Obs.]
Silly Faunus now within their bail.
Spenser.
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.
The bail must be real, substantial bondsmen.
Blackstone.
A. and B. were bail to the arrest in a suit at
law.
Kent.
(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.
Excessive bail ought not to be required.
Blackstone.
Bail, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Bailed (bāld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Bailing.] 1. To lade; to dip and throw; --
usually with out; as, to bail water out of a boat.
Buckets . . . to bail out the water.
Capt. J. Smith.
2. To dip or lade water from; -- often with
out to express completeness; as, to bail a boat.
By the help of a small bucket and our hats we bailed
her out.
R. H. Dana, Jr.
Bail, n. [OF. bail, baille. See
Bailey.] 1. (Usually pl.) A line of
palisades serving as an exterior defense. [Written also
bayle.] [Obs.]
2. The outer wall of a feudal castle. Hence: The
space inclosed by it; the outer court. Holinshed.
3. A certain limit within a forest.
[Eng.]
4. A division for the stalls of an open
stable.
5. (Cricket) The top or cross piece (or
either of the two cross pieces) of the wicket.
Bail, 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.]
Ne none there was to rescue her, ne none to bail.
Spenser.
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.
☞ 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.
(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.
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.
2. A half hoop for supporting the cover of a
carrier's wagon, awning of a boat, etc.