bail

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.

1. to grant or obtain the liberty of (a person under arrest) on security given for their appearance when required, such as in court for trial.

2. to deliver possession of (goods) for storage, hire, or other special purpose, without transfer of ownership.

1. on bail, (of a temporarily released person under arrest) having provided bail.

   He was out on bail within 10 hours of his arrest.

2. go / stand bail for, to provide bail for.

   They spent the night in jail because no one would stand bail for them.

3. jump bail, to fail to return while free on bail.

   The suspect jumped bail and is now being sought.

1. the semicircular handle of a kettle or pail.

2. a hooplike support, as for the canvas cover on a Conestoga wagon.

3. a metal band or bar equipped with rollers for holding a sheet or sheets of paper against the platen of a printing press, typewriter, etc.

1. to dip (water) out of a boat, as with a bucket.

2. to clear of water by dipping (usually followed byout ).

   to bail out a boat.

3. to relieve or assist (a person, company, etc.) in an emergency situation, especially a financial crisis (often followed byout ).

   The corporation bailed out its failing subsidiary through a series of refinancing operations.

1. to clear a boat of water, as with a bucket.

   They flipped the canoe back to its upright position and started bailing rapidly.

2. to make a parachute jump from an airplane (often followed byout ).

3. to give up on or abandon something, as to evade a responsibility (often followed byout ).

   My cousin volunteered to help but bailed at the last minute.

1. Also bailer. a bucket, dipper, or other container used for bailing.

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. Obsolete. bails, the wall of an outer court of a feudal castle.

1. bail up

   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).

1. bail up! (the cry of challenge of a pioneer or person living in the bush.)

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. to fail to appear in court to answer to a charge

5. to act as surety (for someone)

1. (often foll by out) to release or obtain the release of (a person) from custody, security having been made

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. a framework in a cowshed used to secure the head of a cow during milking

1. See bail up

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

1. (often foll by out) to remove (water) from (a boat)

More idioms and phrases containing bail

• make bail
• out on bail
• skip bail