Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Obsolescent spellings of jail, jailer.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A place of confinement, especially for minor offenses or provisional imprisonment; a jail.
- noun [Eng.] an authority conferred upon judges and others included in it, for trying and delivering every prisoner in jail when the judges, upon their circuit, arrive at the place for holding court, and for discharging any whom the grand jury fail to indict.
- noun (Law) See Jail delivery, under
Jail .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Australia, Ireland Preferred alternative spelling of
jail . - noun UK Alternative spelling of
jail . - verb UK To
confine in a gaol; toimprison
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
- 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)
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Poor old Clegg (NI) spent years in gaol before we discovered there was no proof it was his bullet that killed anyone.
7/7 Bombs – Police To Blame SHOCK! « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2010
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Taxes are unpopular, so easier all round to peddle the myth that “too many people are in gaol” than to address the problem of persistent offenders. on October 8, 2009 at 6: 57 pm Wig and Gown
Take A Deep Breath….. « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2009
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Critics have pointed out that the gaol is only designed to hold a maximum of 30 inmates.
Archive 2009-09-01 2009
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During the Emergency Mrs. Gandhi threw the Maharani in gaol for a while (on trumped up charges of tax evasion — in connection with “undeclared” jewels), then let her out again.
Rajmata 2009
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Critics have pointed out that the gaol is only designed to hold a maximum of 30 inmates.
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What better place for social-working worthies to practice than in gaol? on April 13, 2010 at 6: 00 pm Gary
Perverting The Course Of Everything « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2010
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You know people are desperate when attempting to outwit the fire inspectors and insurance people begins to look attractive even when gaol is the price of failure.
Canadian silver bug - February files Canadian silver bug/Green Assassin Brigade 2008
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Prisoners should not languish in gaol; they should be used for a good purpose.
Couldn’t Prosecute Satan « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2008
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Who exactly are all these innocent members of the public thrown in gaol for protecting their property?
I am Brian « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2008
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You know people are desperate when attempting to outwit the fire inspectors and insurance people begins to look attractive even when gaol is the price of failure.
Archive 2008-02-24 Canadian silver bug/Green Assassin Brigade 2008
kewpid commented on the word gaol
I do believe that "gaol" has lost the war against "jail" in the Australian media.
April 26, 2008
bilby commented on the word gaol
The Fat Lady is singing.
April 26, 2008
plethora commented on the word gaol
Such a shame. gaol is a much better word than jail.
April 26, 2008
sionnach commented on the word gaol
Fat lady singing in gaol? I'm guessing it's "Il Trovatore"!
In yon gloomy tow-ow-er
Stern Death now is Caw-aw-ling ....
Home to our mou-hount-ains
let us ret-uh--huh-urn
There in my you-ung days...
Of thee-ee, I'ill thi-ink o-of thee, love,
Yes I-i wi-ill thi-ink o-of thee, love,
I'll think of thee, love
I'll think of thee, love....
April 26, 2008
bilby commented on the word gaol
Just found this snide aside on the etymonline.com entry for jail:
"Persistence of gaol (preferred in Britain) is 'chiefly due to statutory and official tradition' OED, and, probably, the fact that it is known the Americans spell it the other way."
August 5, 2021