\Bail\, 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\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bailed} (?); 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\, v.?t. [OF. bailler to give, to deliver, fr. L.
bajulare to bear a burden, keep in custody, fr. bajulus ? 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.
Note: 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. [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 surely 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\, n. [OE. beyl; cf. Dan. b["o]ile an bending, ring,
hoop, Sw. b["o]gel, 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.

\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.