Gaol: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ข
gaol
[ geษชl ]
prison facility
Gaol is a term primarily used in British English to refer to a place where individuals are incarcerated or detained, often for having committed a crime. It is synonymous with the word 'jail' but typically suggests a larger, more permanent institution. Gaols can vary in size and level of security, and they often serve as correctional facilities for individuals awaiting trial or serving sentences. The term reflects historical usage and is less common in modern contexts, but it can still be encountered in legal documents or discussions about penal systems.
Synonyms
detention center, jail, prison.
Examples of usage
- The suspect was taken to the gaol after his arrest.
- She spent a year in gaol for her involvement in the robbery.
- The old gaol has been converted into a museum.
Translations
Translations of the word "gaol" in other languages:
๐ต๐น prisรฃo
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเฅเคฒ
๐ฉ๐ช Gefรคngnis
๐ฎ๐ฉ penjara
๐บ๐ฆ ะฒ'ัะทะฝะธัั
๐ต๐ฑ wiฤzienie
๐ฏ๐ต ๅๅๆ
๐ซ๐ท prison
๐ช๐ธ cรกrcel
๐น๐ท hapishane
๐ฐ๐ท ๊ต๋์
๐ธ๐ฆ ุณุฌู
๐จ๐ฟ vฤzenรญ
๐ธ๐ฐ vรคzenie
๐จ๐ณ ็็ฑ
๐ธ๐ฎ zapor
๐ฎ๐ธ fangelsi
๐ฐ๐ฟ ัาฏัะผะต
๐ฌ๐ช แขแงแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ hษbsxana
๐ฒ๐ฝ cรกrcel
Etymology
The word 'gaol' has its origins in Middle English, derived from the Old French term 'gaiole', which means a 'cage' or 'cell'. This links back to the Latin word 'caveola', a diminutive of 'cavea', signifying a hollow place or an enclosure. The spelling 'gaol' emerged in British English, aligned with a traditional phonetic representation. Over time, the usage of 'gaol' began to decline in favor of 'jail', particularly in American English. Despite its decreasing prevalence, 'gaol' retains historical significance and is still found in legal terms or in reference to historical penal systems, reflecting a period in English legal history when such terms were commonplace.