BALE

n. & v. --n. 1 a bundle of merchandise or hay etc. tightly wrapped and bound with cords or hoops. 2 the quantity in a bale as a measure, esp. US 500 lb. of cotton. --v.tr. make up into bales. øbale (or bail) out 1 (of an airman) make an emergency parachute descent from an aircraft (cf. BAIL(3)). 2 = BAIL(1) v. 2. [ME prob. f. MDu., ult. identical with BALL(1)]