Naut. Obs. Forms: 5 beyle, 7 baile, 8 bail. [In earlier form baile, a. F. baille (in nautical language) a bucket, a pail, prob.:—late L. bacula, dim. of baca, bacca, BACK sb.2] A bucket or shallow tub used on board ship, esp. for emptying out water; any small vessel used to bail the water out of a boat.
1466. Mann. & Househ. Exp., 211. My master paid to Perse berebrewer for vj beyles for the spynas vijd.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), I. 157. The gentlemen likewise saw the bail of a canoe … made of a human skull.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Bayle, an old term for bucket.
