I. ˈbāl noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bealu; akin to Old High German balo evil, Old Church Slavic bolĭ sick person
Date: before 12th century
1. : great evil
2. : woe , sorrow
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German balla ball
Date: 14th century
: a large bundle of goods ; specifically : a large closely pressed package of merchandise bound and usually wrapped
a bale of paper
a bale of hay
III. transitive verb
( baled ; bal·ing )
Date: 1760
: to make up into a bale
• bal·er noun