bale

1. uncountableEvil, especially considered as an active force for destruction or death.
2. uncountableSuffering, woe, torment.

   Rome, and her Rats, are at the point of battell, The one ſide muſt haue baile.

   c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 2, column 2

   2 more examples

   That other ſwayne, like aſhes deadly pale, Lay in the lap of death, rewing his wretched bale.

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, page 441

   Ffor if you wold comfort me with a kisse, Then were I brought ffrom bale to blisse, Noe longer here wold I lye.

   1885, “Sir Cawline”, in Francis James Child, editor, The English and Scottish popular ballads, volume 2

plural bales

1. obsoleteA large fire, a conflagration or bonfire.
2. archaicA funeral pyre.
3. archaicA beacon-fire.

plural bales

1. A rounded bundle or package of goods in a cloth cover, and corded for storage or transportation.

   So having made up my mind, I packed up in bales a quantity of precious stuffs suited for sea-trade and repaired with them from Baghdad-city to Bassorah-town, where I found ship ready for sea, and in her a company of considerable merchants.

   1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 563

2. A bundle of compressed fibers (especially hay, straw, cotton, or wool), compacted for shipping and handling and bound by twine or wire.

   What I claim therein as new, and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is the within described apparatus for forming a bale of cotton under pressure on a spindle or revolving rod,...

   1847, editorial staff, “Packing and Pressing Cotton”, in Scientific American, series 1, Volume 3, Issue 9, page 68

3. A measurement of hay equal to 10 flakes. Approximately 70-90 lbs (32-41 kg).
4. A measurement of paper equal to 10 reams.
5. A block of compressed cannabis.
6. collectiveA group of turtles.

   The San Diego Freeway traffic is as slow as a bale of turtles.

   2011, Marla Martenson, Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, Bettie Youngs Books

   3 more examples

   A bale of turtles gathers on the waters edge at the newly opened Carpenter Creek Headwaters Park on Olive Road in Escambia County in March 20, 2026.

   2026 March 28, Gregg Pachkowski, “See turtles galore at newly opened Carpenter Creek Headwaters Park”, in Pensacola News Journal, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026

   A captivating video of a 'bale' of turtles seemingly engaged in a meeting has taken the internet by storm

   2025 August 21, ToI Trending Desk, “Video of a group of turtle in an unusual pattern goes viral”, in Times of India, archived from the original on 12 Feb 2026

   This bale of turtles is the last of the original group to be released.

   2021 June 21, Allen Brewer, “Turtle update: Last seven rescued sea turtles will be released on Thursday”, in WLOX, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026

present singular third person bales · participle present baling · participle past baled · past baled

1. transitiveTo wrap into a bale.

present singular third person bales · participle present baling · participle past baled · past baled

1. UKnauticalTo remove water from a boat with buckets etc.

1. alternativeAlternative spelling of balei

1. A surname.

1. A municipality of Croatia.