jail
UK: dʒeɪl | US: dʒeɪl
n. a place where people are legally held as punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial
vt. to confine someone in a jail
The word "jail" originates from the Old French "jaiole" (meaning "cage" or "prison"), which itself derived from the Latin "caveola," a diminutive of "cavea" (cage or enclosure). The spelling evolved in Middle English to "gayole" and later simplified to "jail." The morpheme "ja" preserves the Old French root, while "il" reflects the diminutive structure. The word’s logic ties to the concept of confinement, mirroring its Latin and French roots.
The suspect was taken to jail after his arrest.
Protesters demanded the release of activists jailed unjustly.
The old jail has been converted into a museum.
He spent three years in jail for fraud.
The judge refused to jail the first-time offender.