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bail out

 - 9 dictionary results

bail⋅out

[beyl-out]
–noun
1. the act of parachuting from an aircraft, esp. to escape a crash, fire, etc.
2. an instance of coming to the rescue, esp. financially: a government bailout of a large company.
3. an alternative, additional choice, or the like: If the highway is jammed, you have two side roads as bailouts.
–adjective
4. of, pertaining to, or consisting of means for relieving an emergency situation: bailout measures for hard-pressed smallbusinesses.
Also, bail-out.


Origin:
1950–55; n., adj. use of v. phrase bail out

bail

3[beyl]
–verb (used with object)
1. to dip (water) out of a boat, as with a bucket.
2. to clear of water by dipping (usually fol. by out): to bail out a boat.
–verb (used without object)
3. to bail water.
–noun
4. Also, bailer. a bucket, dipper, or other container used for bailing.
5. bail out,
a. to make a parachute jump from an airplane.
b. to relieve or assist (a person, company, etc.) in an emergency situation, esp. a financial crisis: The corporation bailed out its failing subsidiary through a series of refinancing operations.
c. to give up on or abandon something, as to evade a responsibility: His partner bailed out before the business failed.
Also, bale (for defs. 1–3).


Origin:
1425–75; late ME bayle < MF baille a bucket < VL *bāi(u)la; akin to L bāiulus carrier. See bail 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bail out
bail 2   (bāl)   
v.   bailed, bail·ing, bails

v.   tr.
  1. To remove (water) from a boat by repeatedly filling a container and emptying it over the side.

  2. To empty (a boat) of water by bailing.

v.   intr.
To empty a boat of water by bailing.
n.  A container used for emptying water from a boat.
Phrasal Verb(s):
bail out
  1. To parachute from an aircraft; eject.

  2. To abandon a project or enterprise.


[From Middle English baille, bucket, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *bāiula, water container, from Latin bāiulāre, to carry a load.]
bail'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
bail (out)

  1. in.
    to resign or leave; to get free of someone or something. : Albert bailed just before he got fired.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

bail  (n.1)
"bond money," 1485, developed from "temporary release from jail" (1466), and that from earlier meaning "captivity, custody" (1259). From O.Fr. baillier "control, guard, deliver," from L. bajulare "to bear a burden," from bajulus "porter," of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

bail out

To sell a security, generally at a loss, in anticipation of a further price decline.


bailout

The financial rescue of a faltering business or other organization. Government guarantees for loans made to Chrysler Corporation constituted a bailout.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: bail
Function: transitive verb
1 : to release on bail
2 : to obtain the release of by giving bail —often used with out
3 : to place (personal property) under a bailment bailedPeet v. Roth Hotel Company, 253 North Western Reporter 546 (1934)>
NOTE: Property is usually bailed by putting it temporarily in the custody of another for a specific purpose, as safekeeping or delivery to a third party.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

bail out

  1. Empty water out of a boat, usually by dipping with a bucket or other container. For example, We had to keep bailing out water from this leaky canoe. [Early 1600s]

  2. Rescue someone in an emergency, especially a financial crisis of some kind, as in They were counting on an inheritance to bail them out. [Colloquial; 1900s]

  3. Jump out of an airplane, using a parachute. For example, When the second engine sputtered, the pilot decided to bail out. [c. 1930]

  4. Give up on something, abandon a responsibility, as in The company was not doing well, so John decided to bail out while he could still find another job. [Second half of 1900s]

  5. See make bail.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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