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Bible Encyclopedias
Bale
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
or (i) (A word common to Teutonic languages, in O. Eng. bale, cf. Icelandic bol), evil, suffering, a word obsolete except in poetry, and more common in the adjectival form "baleful." In early alliterative poetry it is especially used antithetically with "bliss." (2) (0. Eng. bael, a blazing fire, a funeral pyre), a bonfire, a northern English use more common in the tautological "bale-fire," with sometimes a confused reference from (i) to evil. (3) (A word of doubtful origin, possibly connected with "ball"), a bundle of merchandise, especially of cotton, wool or hay, packed with a cover, or fastened with bands of metal, &c. for transportation; the weight and capacity varies with the goods. (4) (Properly "bail," from Fr. baille, possibly connected with Lat. bacula, a tub), to empty water out of a boat by means of a bail or bucket.
These files are public domain.
Chisholm, Hugh, General Editor. Entry for 'Bale'. 1911 Encyclopedia Britanica. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/bri/b/bale.html. 1910.
