Bale
/beɪl/noun
A large bundle of goods tightly bound by twine or wire.
Did you know?The term 'bale' is historically linked to the Old English 'bælg', which meant 'suffering'—a reminder of the burdens we carry.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰel-
“to swell, to burst”
Old English
Old English
bælg
“sack, bag, or bundle associated with burdens”
Middle English
Middle English
bale
“a bundle of goods or materials, often heavy and burdensome”
14th Century
Middle English
bale
“a bundle of hay or straw, signifying labor and toil”
Modern English
English
bale
“a tightly bound package of goods, retaining its connotation of weight and burden”