jail

[ jeyl ]

noun

1. a prison, especially one for the detention of persons awaiting trial or convicted of minor offenses.

verb (used with object)

1. to take into or hold in lawful custody; imprison.

jail

/ dʒeɪl /

noun

1. a place for the confinement of persons convicted and sentenced to imprisonment or of persons awaiting trial to whom bail is not granted
2. get out of jail or get out of jail free informal.
   to get out of a difficult situation

verb

1. tr to confine in prison

Derived Forms

• ˈjailless, adjective
• ˈjail-like, adjective

Other Words From

• jaila·ble adjective
• jailless adjective
• jaillike adjective
• non·jaila·ble adjective
• re·jail verb (used with object)
• un·jailed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jail¹

1225–75; Middle English gaiole, jaiole, jaile < Old North French gaiole, Old French jaiole cage < Vulgar Latin *gaviola, variant of *caveola, diminutive of Latin cavea cage; -ole ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of jail¹

C13: from Old French jaiole cage, from Vulgar Latin caveola (unattested), from Latin cavea enclosure; see cage : the two spellings derive from the forms of the word that developed in two different areas of France, and the spelling gaol represents a pronunciation in use until the 17th century

Example Sentences

He was sentenced to nine years in jail, including time spent on remand, and under the previous rules would have been released on licence at the half-way stage.

From BBC

The memories of her time inside the jail are too much to bear.

From BBC

A prison officer who doesn't want to be identified who works in a different, government-run English jail, told us it's unsurprising to hear about staff corruption.

From BBC

Gauke, who was justice secretary under Theresa May, has previously suggested that jail terms of less than six months should be scrapped.

From BBC

He warned projections showed demand for prison cells would continue to "increase very significantly", but he hoped the sentencing review could help avoid the same crunchpoint in future, by reducing the number of people sent to jail.

From BBC

Related Words

• confine
• detain
• hold
• imprison
• lock up
• sentence
• take away