gaol
Plural: gaols
Noun
- a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
- Dated spelling of jail.
Verb
Verb Forms: gaoled, gaoling, gaols
- To imprison or confine someone in a jail.
- lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
- Dated spelling of jail.
Examples
- A clever block could GAOL his opponent’s potential bingo in Scrabble.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English gayole, gaiol, gaylle, gaille, gayle, gaile, via Old French gaiole, gayolle, gaole, from Medieval Latin gabiola, for Late Latin caveola, a diminutive of Latin cavea (“cavity, coop, cage”). See also cage.
Synonyms
clink, immure, imprison, incarcerate, jail, jailhouse, jug, lag, pokey, poky, put away, put behind bars, remand, slammer
Scrabble Score: 5
gaol: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordgaol: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gaol: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary