bail
In legal settings, the term carries a sense of temporary liberation and financial risk, acting as a contractual bond between the state and the individual. It is a formal procedure tied to the judicial system. In casual slang, the word evokes a sudden, often cowardly or impulsive exit. It suggests a lack of commitment or a reaction to panic, shifting the image from a legal transaction to a physical act of jumping off a failing platform.
Countable when referring to a handle on a bucket. Uncountable when referring to the legal sum of money paid for release.
Meanings
To pay a set amount of money to release someone from jail until their trial.
"The lawyer helped bail the defendant out."
To abandon a project or person suddenly, especially when things become difficult.
"He decided to bail when the work got too hard."
To remove water from a boat using a bucket or pump.
"We had to bail the canoe for ten minutes."