bale

Meanings

Noun

• Evil, especially considered as an active force for destruction or death.
• Suffering, woe, torment.
• A large fire, a conflagration or bonfire.
• A funeral pyre.
• A beacon-fire.
• A rounded bundle or package of goods in a cloth cover, and corded for storage or transportation.
• A bundle of compressed wool or hay, compacted for shipping and handling.
• A measurement of hay equal to 10 flakes. Approximately 70-90 lbs (32-41 kg).
• A measurement of paper equal to 10 reams.
• A block of compressed cannabis.

Verb

• To wrap into a bale.
• To remove water from a boat with buckets etc.

Origin

• From Middle English bale, from Old English bealo, from Proto-Germanic *balwą. Cognate with Low German bal- ("bad, ill"), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌻𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 ("torture"), Old High German balo ("destruction"), Old Norse bǫl ("disaster").
• From Middle English bale, from Old English bǣl ("pyre, funeral pyre"), from Proto-Germanic *bēlą ("pyre"), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- ("to shine; gleam; sparkle"). Cognate with Old Norse bál (which may have been the direct source for the English word).
• From Middle English bale, from Old French bale and Medieval Latin bala, of Germanic origin. ball.
• Image:Dülmen, Dernekamp, Strohballen -- 2015 -- 7838.jpg|Round straw bales in Germany|thumb|right
• Alternative spelling of bail.