jail
pronunciation
How to pronounce jail in British English:
UK [dʒeɪl]
How to pronounce jail in American English:
US [dʒeɪl]
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- Noun:
- a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
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- Verb:
- lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
Word Origin
- jail
- jail: [13] Etymologically, a jail is a ‘little cage’. The word comes ultimately from Vulgar Latin *gaviola, which was an alteration of an earlier *caveola, a diminutive form of Latin cavea ‘cage’ (source of English cage). It passed into English in two distinct versions: jail came via Old French jaiole; but the Old Northern French form of the word was gaiole, and this produced English gaol.Until the 17th century gaol was pronounced with a hard /g/ sound, but then it gradually fell into line phonetically with jail. There has been a tendency for British English to use the spelling gaol, while American prefers jail, but there are now signs that jail is on the increase in Britain.=> cage
- jail (n.)
- late 13c., gayhol, from Old North French gaiole and Old French jaole, both meaning "a cage, prison," from Medieval Latin gabiola, from Late Latin caveola, diminutive of Latin cavea "cage, enclosure, stall, coop" (see cave (n.)). Both forms carried into Middle English; now pronounced "jail" however it is spelled. Persistence of Norman-derived gaol (preferred in Britain) is "chiefly due to statutory and official tradition" [OED].
- jail (v.)
- "to put in jail," c. 1600, from jail (n.). Related: Jailed; jailing.
Example
- 1. Stephen fry spent time in jail for credit fraud .
- 2. He was sentenced to eight years in jail .
- 3. Only mr kim served any time in jail .
- 4. Keeping prisoners in jail isn 't cheap .
- 5. Many political prisoners remain in jail .