jail
The definition of a jail is a place where people are held for trail, or where people who've been convicted of a crime serve out a sentence.
(noun)An example of a jail is San Quentin Prison.
Jail is defined as to put someone into a place that they can't get out of.
(verb)An example of jail is to put someone in a holding cell after they've committed a crime.
See jail in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- a building for the confinement of people who are awaiting trial or who have been convicted of minor offenses
- imprisonment
Origin: ME jaile, gaile < OFr jaole, gaole, a cage, prison < LL caveola, dim. of L cavea, cage
transitive verb
See jail in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- A place for the confinement of persons in lawful detention, especially persons awaiting trial under local jurisdiction.
- Detention in a jail.
Origin:
Origin: From Middle English jaiole (from Old French)
Origin: and from Middle English gaiol, gaol (from Old North French gaiole)
Origin: , both from Vulgar Latin *gaviola
Origin: , from Latin *caveola
Origin: , diminutive of cavea, cage, hollow
.Learn more about jail
Related Articles
