bail
- noun
- /beɪl/
- The pot of pinto beans swung by its bail on an iron rod to the side of the fire.
- a bail handle
Examples
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To keep the boat afloat, we need to use a bail to remove the water.
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We will have to grab a bucket and bail, or drown with him.
Academic text (2009) -
IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK, TRYING TO SWIM, HOLD ONTO THE CANOE WITHOUT TIPPING IT, AND BAIL, ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
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The fisherman used a small bucket as a bail to empty the water from his boat.
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During the storm, they had to bail out the canoe to prevent it from sinking.
Synonyms
A tool or person who removes water from a boat
Compounds
- Formal
A written promise to pay money if a person accused of a crime does not go to court
How Big
Surface Forms
Etymology
Bail (container) originally meant a 'bucket' or scoop for water, and is the same word behind the verb that means to remove water. That's why a bail is the tool you use to empty water from a boat.