Middle English : from Old French, literally custody, jurisdiction', from bailler 'take charge of', from Latin bajulare 'bear a burden'Middle English (denoting the outer wall of a castle): from Old French baile 'palisade, enclosure', baillier 'enclose', perhaps from Latin baculum 'rod, stick'early 17th cent.: from obsolete bail 'bucket', from French baille, based on Latin bajulus 'carrier'