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| jail [ jayl ] |
noun (plural jails) |
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| Definition: |
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1. place where criminals are kept: a secure place for keeping people found guilty of minor crimes or awaiting legal judgment
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2. life as prisoner: the state of being kept in a jail
  sentenced to three years' jail
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transitive verb (past and past participle jailed, present participle jail·ing, 3rd person present singular jails) |
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| Definition: |
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1. send somebody to jail: to sentence somebody to spend time in a jail
The judge jailed her for three months.
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2. lock somebody in jail: to keep somebody in a jail or other secure place
prisoners who were jailed in a dungeon
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| [13th century. Via Old French jaiole< Latin caveola, diminutive of cavea "cage"] |
