bail up

verb

See bail
informal.
to confine (a cow) or (of a cow) to be confined by the head in a bail See bail 3
tr history (of a bushranger) to hold under guard in order to rob
intr to submit to robbery without offering resistance
informal.
tr to accost or detain, esp in conversation; buttonhole

The ghosts would then begin to bail up water out of the sea to empty it in the boat.

She could frighten a wildish cow and bail up anything that would stay in a yard with her.

We rode up sharpish, and showed our revolvers, singing out to him to 'bail up'.

The third mate seemed then somewhat cowed by my interference, and though he went round the ship and cried "Bail up!"

Anyway, the boy will lam the cow down with a jagged yard shovel, let her out, and bail up another.

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Browse