/bayl"owt'/ , n.
1. the act of parachuting from an aircraft, esp. to escape a crash, fire, etc.
2. an instance of coming to the rescue, esp. financially: a government bailout of a large company.
3. an alternative, additional choice, or the like: If the highway is jammed, you have two side roads as bailouts.
adj.
4. of, pertaining to, or consisting of means for relieving an emergency situation: bailout measures for hard-pressed small businesses.
Also, bail-out .
[ 1950-55; n., adj. use of v. phrase bail out ]