I. ˈjāl, esp before pause or consonant -āəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English jaiole, jaile, from Old French jaiole, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin caveola, diminutive of Latin cavea cavity, cage — more at cage
1. : prison
2. : a building for the confinement of persons held in lawful custody (as for minor offenses or some future judicial proceeding) : lockup
3. : confinement in a jail
kept in jail until he posted bond
sentenced to jail for 30 days
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to confine in or as if in a jail : lock up : imprison