jail
jail definition
jail (jāl)
noun
- a building for the confinement of people who are awaiting trial or who have been convicted of minor offenses
- imprisonment
Etymology: ME jaile, gaile < OFr jaole, gaole, a cage, prison < LL caveola, dim. of L cavea, cage
transitive verb
to put or keep in or as in jail
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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