Gaol: meaning, definitions and examples

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gaol

 

[ geษชl ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

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:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น prisรฃo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคœเฅ‡เคฒ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Gefรคngnis

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ penjara

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒ'ัะทะฝะธั†ั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ wiฤ™zienie

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅˆ‘ๅ‹™ๆ‰€

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท prison

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ cรกrcel

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท hapishane

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ต๋„์†Œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุณุฌู†

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ vฤ›zenรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ vรคzenie

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็›‘็‹ฑ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zapor

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ fangelsi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั‚าฏั€ะผะต

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒขแƒงแƒ•แƒ”แƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hษ™bsxana

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ 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.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,436, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.