Jail Definition
jāl
jailed, jails
noun
jails
A building for the confinement of people who are awaiting trial or who have been convicted of minor offenses.
Webster's New World
A place of detention, especially for persons who are accused of committing a crime and have not been released on bail or for persons who are serving short sentences after conviction of a misdemeanor.
American Heritage
Imprisonment.
Webster's New World
A confinement facility whose inmates are individuals awaiting trial or convicted of lesser offenses.
Webster's New World Law
(horse racing) The condition created by the requirement that a horse claimed in a claiming race not be run at another track for some period of time (usually 30 days).
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
jailed, jails
To put or keep in or as in jail.
Webster's New World
To imprison.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Origin of Jail
From Middle English jaiole (from Old French) and from Middle English gaiol, gaol (from Old North French gaiole) both from Vulgar Latin gaviola from Latin caveola diminutive of cavea cage, hollow
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Middle English gaiole, gayle, gaile, gayll, via Old French gaiole, gaole, geole, geole, from Medieval Latin gabiola, for *caveola, a diminutive of Latin cavea (“cavity, coop, cage”).
From Wiktionary
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