Bailed

Bailed is the past tense and past participle of bail, a verb with several distinct uses in English. The sense most likely to appear in legal or formal writing concerns temporary release from custody, while other senses cover removing liquid from a vessel and withdrawing from a plan or commitment. Because of these multiple origins, context is essential to interpret bailed correctly.

In a legal context, bail refers to the temporary release of a person accused of a crime, typically secured by money, property, or a guarantee that the person will appear in court. A bail payment or a bail bond is posted to ensure the accused’s attendance at future proceedings. When someone is bailed, they are released from custody under specified conditions; the person may be described as having been bailed out.

In nautical and some mechanical contexts, to bail means to remove excess water from a vessel or container. Bailing is done with a bailer or bucket to prevent flooding and to help a craft stay afloat. This sense is older and historically tied to the practical act of keeping water out of boats, tubs, and wells.

In informal usage, bail is used metaphorically to mean withdrawing from a commitment or plan. To bail on someone or to bail out of a plan indicates abandoning it, often abruptly.

Etymology is complex because the various senses of bail have developed in different domains over time. Related terms include bail bonds, bail out (financial rescue), bailer (the tool used to bail), and bailout (the act of rescue or relief).