Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (UK) a perjurer who is willing, for payment, to testify on behalf of either defendant or plaintiff.

c.1637		R. Brome Damoiselle III i: He takes me for a common Bail; a Knight o’th’ Post.
1688		Shadwell Squire of Alsatia I i: I am going to the man you call Crump, who helpeth Sollicitors to Affidavit-men, and Swearers, and Bail.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Crump, one that helps Sollicitors to Affidavit men, and Swearers, and Bail, who for a small Sum will be Bound or Swear for any Body.
1730		Derby Mercury 14 Jan. 3/2: ‘List of Officers which are established in the most notorious Gaming Houses [...] Common Bail, Affidavit Men, Ruffins, Bravoes, Assassins, cum multis aliis.
1797		‘T.B. Junr’ Pettyfogger Dramatized 107: Accommodation Men, are men who have failed in the world, yet preserve an external credit; ready to [...] become Bail, and justify to any amount, and give evidence; in short, to do anything the Pettyfogger requires.
1869		Sportsman (London) 11 Dec. 4/1: Notes on News [...] ‘[B]ail’ were in attendance at various courts who were prepared to swear their souls away on either side of any case whatever for half-a-crown or so.

2. credit.

2000		J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 103: It would help the price if we could have bail on the goods.
2007		N. ‘Razor’ Smith Raiders 165: Andy, like most kiters, would often get the [cheque] books on bail and pay the supplier out of the proceeds.

3. (N.Z. prison) in a conscious reversal of the SE use, a criminal charge sheet.

2001

D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 12/1: bail form n. a criminal charge sheet.