First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1jail
noun \ˈjāl\
: a place where people are kept when they have been arrested and are being punished for a crime
Full Definition of JAIL
1
: a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody; specifically : such a place under the jurisdiction of a local government (as a county) for the confinement of persons awaiting trial or those convicted of minor crimes — compare prison
2
: confinement in a jail <sentenced to jail>
See jail defined for English-language learners
See jail defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of JAIL
Middle English jaiole, from Anglo-French gaiole, jaiole, from Late Latin caveola, diminutive of Latin cavea cage — more at cage
Related to JAIL
- Synonyms
- bastille, big house [slang], bridewell, brig, calaboose, can, clink [slang], cooler, coop, guardroom, hock, hold, hoosegow, jailhouse, joint [slang], jug, lockup, nick [British slang], pen, penitentiary, pokey [slang], prison, quod [British slang], slam, slammer, stir [slang], stockade, tolbooth [Scottish]
Other Legal Terms
Rhymes with JAIL
2jail
verb
: to put (a person) in jail
Full Definition of JAIL
transitive verb
: to confine in or as if in a jail
See jail defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of JAIL
1604
Related to JAIL
Other Legal Terms
JAIL Defined for Kids
1jail
noun \ˈjāl\
Definition of JAIL for Kids
: prison
2jail
verb
jailedjail·ing
Definition of JAIL for Kids
: to shut up in or as if in a prison
Learn More About JAIL
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up jail? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).