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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Gaol

Gāol, n.

noun

(jāl), n. [O. Fr. gaole, gaiole, jaiole, Norm. Fr. geaule, geole, N. Fr. geôle, Pg. gaiola, Sp. gayola, jaula, It. gabbriuola, L. Lat. gajola, gabiola, Lat. as if caveola, diminutive of cavea, cavity, cage, q. v.] A place of confinement or safe keeping of persons legally committed to it for crime, or of persons committed for trial or for failure to recognize in criminal cases, or for contempt of court, and of others in the legal custody of the sheriff or other officer of the law; a prison. Bouvier. Burrill.

Written also, and preferably, jail.

Gāol or Gāol'-de-liv'er-y, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. To imprison; to confine in prison. Bacon. Gāol'-de-liv'er-y (jāl), n. (Law.) A clearing the gaol of persons confined in it for trial, by trying them; and of persons whom the grand jury fail to indict, by discharging them; jail-delivery.

Commission of general gaol delivery, an authority conferred upon judges, and others who may be included in it, for trying and delivering every prisoner, who may be in gaol, when the judges, upon their circuit, arrive at the place for holding court, whenever and for whatever crime indicted: and for discharging any whom the grand jury fail to indict. [Eng.]