[bale] n [ME, fr. OE bealu; akin to OHG balo evil, OCS boli sick person] (bef. 12c) 1: great evil
2: woe, sorrow
[2]bale n [ME, fr. MF, of Gmc origin; akin to OHG balla ball] (14c): a large bundle of goods; specif: a large closely pressed package of merchandise bound and usu. wrapped "a ~ of paper" "a ~ of hay" [3]bale vt baled ; bal.ing (1760): to make up into a bale -- bal.er n