bale

¹

[ beyl ]

noun

1. a large bundle or package prepared for shipping, storage, or sale, especially one tightly compressed and secured by wires, hoops, cords, or the like, and sometimes having a wrapping or covering:

   a bale of cotton; a bale of hay.

2. a group of turtles.

verb (used with object)

, baled, bal·ing.

1. to make or form into bales:

   to bale wastepaper for disposal.

bale

²

[ beyl ]

noun

, Archaic.

1. evil; harm; misfortune.
2. woe; misery; sorrow.

bale

³

[ beyl ]

noun

1. bail ².

bale

⁴

[ beyl ]

verb (used with or without object)

, baled, bal·ing.

1. a spelling variant of bail ³( defs 1, 2, 4 ).

Bâle

⁵

[ bahl ]

noun

1. French name of Basel.

bale

¹

/ beɪl /

verb

1. a variant spelling of bail 2

bale

²

/ beɪl /

noun

1. evil; injury
2. woe; suffering; pain

Bâle

³

/ bɑl /

noun

1. the French name for Basle

bale

⁴

/ beɪl /

noun

1. a variant spelling of bail 4

bale

⁵

/ beɪl /

noun

1. a large bundle, esp of a raw or partially processed material, bound by ropes, wires, etc, for storage or transportation

   bale of hay

2. a large package or carton of goods
3. 500 pounds of cotton
4. a group of turtles
5. See wool bale

verb

1. to make (hay, etc) into a bale or bales
2. to put (goods) into packages or cartons
3. to pack and compress (wool) into wool bales

Other Words From

• baleless adjective
• baler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bale¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-Latin bala, Anglo-French bale “pack, bale,” from unattested Frankish balla; compare Old High German balo, akin to balla; ball ¹

Origin of bale²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English bealu, balu; cognate with Old Norse bǫl, Old Saxon balu, Old High German balo, Gothic balw-; akin to Russian bolʾ “pain”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bale¹

Old English bealu ; related to Old Norse böl evil, Gothic balwa , Old High German balo

Origin of bale²

C14: probably from Old French bale , from Old High German balla ball ¹

Example Sentences

In recent years, one of the farm’s employees, Juan Ramirez, has crafted giant minions out of hay bales that are visible from the freeway.

From Los Angeles Times

In other areas, thousands of hay bales have been placed in rows on the lakebed to help control dust.

From Los Angeles Times

It said two people were arrested and 12 bales of drugs were seized following the operation 90 nautical miles north of the "narco-sub".

From BBC

Raju said they got out and briefly hid behind bales of hay, still visible Thursday afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times

And when they get stuck between layers of paper, the bags end up contaminating bales of paper that are actually recyclable, condemning much of it to the landfill.

From Salon

Related Words

• bundle