Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Bale \Bale\, n. [OE. bale, OF. bale, F. balle, LL. bala, fr.
   OHG. balla, palla, pallo, G. ball, balle, ballen, ball round
   pack; cf. D. baal. Cf. {Ball} a round body.]
   A bundle or package of goods in a cloth cover, and corded for
   storage or transportation; also, a bundle of straw ? hay,
   etc., put up compactly for transportation.

   {Bale of dice}, a pair of dice. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.

Bale \Bale\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Baled} (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Baling}.]
   To make up in a bale. --Goldsmith.

Bale \Bale\, v. t.
   See {Bail}, v. t., to lade.

Bale \Bale\ (b[=a]l), n. [AS. bealo, bealu, balu; akin to OS.
   balu, OHG. balo, Icel. b["o]l, Goth. balweins.]
   1. Misery; calamity; misfortune; sorrow.

            Let now your bliss be turned into bale. --Spenser.

   2. Evil; an evil, pernicious influence; something causing
      great injury. [Now chiefly poetic]

Source : WordNet®

bale
     n 1: a large bundle bound for storage or transport
     2: a city in northwestern Switzerland [syn: {Basel}, {Basle}]

bale
     v : make into a bale; "bale hay"