bail

{{11}}bail (n.¹) "bond money," late 15c., a sense that apparently developed from that of "temporary release from jail" (into the custody of another, who gives security), recorded from early 15c. That evolved from earlier meaning "captivity, custody" (early 14c.). From O.Fr. baillier "to control, to guard, deliver" (12c.), from L. bajulare "to bear a burden," from bajulus "porter," of unknown origin. As a verb, "to procure someone's release from prison" (by posting bail) is from 1580s; usually with out. In late 18c. criminal slang, to give leg bail meant "to run away."

{{12}}bail (n.²) "horizontal piece of wood in a cricket wicket," c.1742, originally "any cross bar" (1570s), probably identical with M.Fr. bail "horizontal piece of wood affixed on two stakes," and with English bail "palisade wall, outer wall of a castle" (see BAILEY (Cf. bailey)).

{{12}}bail (v.) "to dip water out of," 1610s, from baile (n.) "small wooden bucket" (mid-14c.), from nautical O.Fr. baille "bucket, pail," from M.L. *bajula (aquae), lit. "porter of water," from L. bajulare "to bear a burden" (see BAIL (Cf. bail) (n.¹)). To bail out "leave suddenly" (intransitive) is recorded from 1930, originally of airplane pilots.