Meaning

1 senses

  1. (UK, countable, uncountable)Dated spelling of jail.

More definitions
  • 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)

Examples

5 sentences

  1. How many people are in gaol?

    andibing · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  2. He is locked up in gaol.

    andibing · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  3. Tyrannical governments frequently gaol their political opponents.

    ruДеспотические правительства часто сажают в тюрьму своих политических оппонентов. — Ooneykcall

    fcbond · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · C1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  4. Soon we'll be able to send you to gaol.

    ruМы вас скоро сможем посадить. — FeuDRenais

    BE · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  5. How many people are in gaol in this country?

    andibing · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

Origin

From Middle English gayole, gaiol, gaylle, gaille, gayle, gaile, via Old French gaiole, ga

From Middle English gayole, gaiol, gaylle, gaille, gayle, gaile, via Old French gaiole, gayolle, gaole, from Medieval Latin gabiola, for Late Latin caveola, a diminutive of Latin cavea (“cavity, coop, cage”). See also cage.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

plural: gaols
Singulargaol
Pluralgaols

regular

Synonyms

6 synonyms
Close in meaning
  • 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):jailjailhouseclinkslammerpokypokey

Word family

14 related words
Relatedgaoler
Derivedengaolgaolablegaolbirdgaolbreakergaoldomgaol fevergaolishgaolkeepergaollessgaolmategaolwardgaolwardsgaolyard

Lessons for this word

1 lessons

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
gangsterB2gangwaygapB1gapeC1
gaol — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto