Middle English Dictionary Entry
bail(le n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | bail(le n.(1) Also bal(e. |
| Etymology | OF bail |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. bailli(e.
1.
(a) Captivity, custody; (b) charge, guardianship, stewardship.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1211 : Fyrumbras..Wyth four othre men of myȝt wern put þo þer in baile..þay criede..as þay in prisoun sete.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)381/161 : He [Christ] brought oute of oure [Satan's] bale [rimes: faile, taile, counsaille]..Lazar of Betannye.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)273/63 : His body is vndyr ȝour bayle.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1652 : And y hadde now the in my bayle, y schulde do the sorw.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)76/383 : That lord blyst might he be, that vs from bayll has broght.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.54 : Morgan..And Condage..In battaill greate hir tooke and putte in baill [vr. vayle].
b
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)205/22 : Haile! be þou quene, emperes of hel..We prayn þe dame and damesel, þat þou bryng vs into þi bal.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4137 : Þat oþer broþer had þe baylle Of þe erldom of Cornewaille. When ilk was sesed in his erldam, þey were cald Erles.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)518 : The kynge Clarion ne..myght no better haue be-sette the baille [F baillie] than vpon yow.
2.
Law Temporary release of an arrested person into the custody of another who gives security for the offender's future appearance at trial; ben in ~, gon in (to) ~, be released on bail; haven in ~, hold in custody on bail; letten to ~, putten in (to) ~, release on bail; taken to ~, take into custody on bail; without ~ or mainprise, etc.
Associated quotations
- (1423) RParl.4.258b : The seid servauntz..have imprisonement of a Moneth, withoute baill or mainpris. And if any Sheref..put any such persone to baill or mainpris, thanne lese to the Kyng, for every suche man let to baill or mainpris, xx s.
- (a1443) *Pet.Chanc.PRO ser.CP 1 file 12no.112 : The said Hugh..there vndre grete bondes and with grete duras of yren hath be contenuelly..til this day in prisone, nought considering resonables offres to haue hadde hym in baille.
- (1450) Paston2.176 : Them to comytte to your Tour of London..there to abyde with outen bayle or maynprice on to the tyme that they be utterly tryed.
- (1450) RParl.5.201a : To abide in prison..withoute goyng to bayle, baston, or mainpris, by the space of xii monethes.
- (?c1450) Let.in Camd.8665 : Thomas, Roger, and Jacket have asked surety of peace of mee, for their intent was to bringe me into the Towre; but, I trust in God, to-morrowe they shall go in bayle unto the next term, and soe to goe home, and then to come agayne.
- (1457) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)390 : Þe said Rauf them [rioting servants] toke to baill upon a grete somme..þe said Rauf was commytted to warde &c And nowe is lette to baille by consideracion of þe Court.
- (1466) Paston4.217 : Sythen he was takyn to baylle, the Chawncelerer cowde not compelle the swertes to bryng hym in befor hys day.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57169 : Robard Henengham becam sewterte [read: sewerte] to my mastyr for the bayle of on Willyam Valenden..to be paid at Wytsontyde next comenge.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.391 : That no citezen be putt in comyn prisone..alwey forseyn that the Baillies make seurte sufficiaunt for the summe of his inprisonement, and thervppon put hym in baylle.
- (1475) RParl.6.135a : And if the said Henry and Richard..be commytted to ward..and the Marchall..suffre the same..to eschape or goo at large, or be in baill or baston; then the same Marshall..to forfeit and lese cc li.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1350 Guy(3) (Wales 572)229 : The ferst tim I s.y. thi bodi smal, Thu venymed me thar-wid-al; Thurgh that venym my hert his in bal, Neuer-mar ne des hit hal.
Note: ?add fig. gloss
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1459) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1301 : Hyt was grawnt by the sayd semble that every jure that ys weddyt, that ber not hys ball, that he schall pay xl s.
Note: Additional quote(s). ?Sense ?This word.