Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: 'keeping someone as a prisoner', from baillier 'to deliver, keep as a prisoner', from Medieval Latin bajulare 'to control', from Latin bajulus 'someone who carries loads'

bail

1 noun
     
Related topics: Cricket, Crime and Law
bail1
1SC [uncountable] money left with a court of law to make sure that a prisoner will return when their trial startsCOLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
(out) on bail release somebody on bail grant somebody bail refuse somebody bail post bail hold somebody without bail (=make someone stay in prison until their trial) stand bail/put up bail BrE (=pay someone's bail) jump bail also skip bail British English (=not return to trial as you promised) set somebody's bail at something (=say how much bail they must pay) conditional bail British English (=bail given if someone agrees to do something) unconditional bail British English (=bail given without having to agree to do something)
Carpenter is free on bail while he appeals his conviction.
She was murdered by a man who was out on bail for rape.
The three men were released on bail pending an appeal.
He is not likely to be granted bail.
Carter has been refused bail and will remain in custody.
The judge ordered that Jones be held without bail.
Why can't you ask your father to put up bail for you?
Two of the defendants jumped bail and fled to New York.
Bail was set at $30,000.
2DSC [countable usually plural] one of the two small pieces of wood laid on top of the stumps in a game of cricket
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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