HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

bail¹

(bāl)

1. Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that person's appearance for trial.

2. Release from imprisonment provided by the payment of such money.

3. A person who provides this security.

tr.v. bailed, bail·ing, bails

1. To secure the release of by providing security.

2. To release (a person) for whom security has been paid.

3. Informal To extricate from a difficult situation: always bailing you out of trouble.

Idioms:

jump/skip bail

To fail to appear in court and so forfeit one's bail.

make bail

To secure enough money or property to pay the amount of one's bail.

[Middle English, custody, from Old French, from baillier, to take charge of, from Latin bāiulāre, to carry a load, from bāiulus, carrier of a burden.]

bailer n.

bail²

(bāl)

v. bailed, bail·ing, bails

v.tr.

1. To remove (water) from a boat by repeatedly filling a container and emptying it over the side.

2. To empty (a boat) of water by bailing.

v.intr.

1. To empty a boat of water by bailing.

2. To parachute from an aircraft; eject. Often used with out: bailed out of the damaged airplane at the last possible moment.

3. To abandon a project or enterprise. Often used with out: The investors bailed out when it looked as though the company was going to be unprofitable.

A container used for emptying water from a boat.

[From Middle English baille, bucket, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *bāiula, water container, from Latin bāiulāre, to carry a load.]

bailer n.

bail³

(bāl)

1. The arched hooplike handle of a container, such as a pail.

2. An arch or hoop, such as one of those used to support the top of a covered wagon.

3. A hinged bar on a typewriter that holds the paper against the platen.

4. The pivoting U-shaped part of a fishing reel that guides the line onto the spool during rewinding.

5. A small loop, usually of metal, attached to a pendant to enable it to be strung on a necklace or bracelet.

[Middle Englishbeil, perhaps fromOld English*begelorof Scandinavian origin; see bheug- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

(click for a larger image)

bail3

covered wagon

bail⁴

(bāl)

1. Chiefly British A pole or bar used to confine or separate animals.

2. Sports One of the two crossbars that form the top of a wicket used in the game of cricket.

[Old French dialectal, probably from Latin baculum, stick; see BACILLUS.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products