bailer

Variant of bail

noun

  1. money, a bond, etc. deposited with the court to obtain the temporary release of an arrested person on the assurance that the person will obey the court's orders, as by appearing for trial
  2. the release thus brought about
  3. the person or persons giving bail

Origin: ME & OFr, power, control, custody < OFr baillier, to keep in custody, deliver < L bajulare, to bear a burden < bajulus, porter, carrier

transitive verb

  1. to deliver (goods) in trust for a special purpose
  2. to set (an arrested person) free on bail or have (an arrested person) set free by giving bail: often with out
  3. to help out of financial or other difficulty: often with out
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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