bail bond
    n 1: (criminal law) money that must be forfeited by the bondsman
         if an accused person fails to appear in court for trial;
         "the judge set bail at $10,000"; "a $10,000 bond was
         furnished by an alderman" [syn: bail, bail bond,
         bond]

Bail bond \Bail" bond`\ (b[=a]l" b[o^]nd`). (Law)
      (a) A bond or obligation given by a prisoner and his
          surety, to insure the prisoner's appearance in court,
          at the return of the writ.
      (b) Special bail in court to abide the judgment.
          --Bouvier.
          [1913 Webster]

BAIL BOND, practice, contracts. A specialty by which the defendant and other 
persons, usually not less than two, though the sheriff may take only one, 
become bound to the sheriff in a penalty equal to that for which bail is 
demanded, conditioned for the due appearance of such defendant to the legal 
process therein described, and by which the sheriff has been commanded to 
arrest him. It is only where the defendant is arrested or in the custody of 
the sheriff, under other than final process, that the sheriff can take such 
bond. On this bond being tendered to him, which he is compelled to take if 
the sureties are good, he must discharge the defendant. Stat. 23 H. VI. c. 
9. 
     2. With some exceptions, as for example, where the defendant 
surrenders; 5 T. R. 754; 7 T. R. 123; 1 East, 387; 1 Bos. & Pull. 326; 
nothing can be a performance of the condition of the bail bond, but putting 
in bail to the action. 5 Burr. 2683. 
     3. The plaintiff has a right to demand from the sheriff an assignment 
of such bond, so that he may sue it for his own benefit. 4 Ann. c. 16, Sec. 
20; Wats. on Sheriff, 99; 1 Sell. Pr. 126, 174. For the general requisites 
of a bail bond, see 1 T. R. 422; 2 T. R. 569 15 East. 320; 2 Wils. 69; 6 T. 
R. 702; 9 East, 55; . D. & R. 215; 4 M. & S. 338; 1 Moore, R. 514; 6 Moore, 
R. 264 East, 568; Hurls. on Bonds, 56; U. S. Dig. Bail V.