(Gaola, Fr. Géole, that is, Caverola, a cage for birds) is used metaphorically for a prison. See Passons.

GAOL Delivery. The administration of justice being originally vested in the crown, our kings in former times rode in person through the realm once in seven years, to judge of and determine crimes and offences; but afterwards justices in eyre were appointed, and since that time justices of assize and gaol delivery. A commission of gaol delivery is a patent in the nature of a letter from the king to certain persons, appointing them his justices, or two or three of them, and authorizing them to deliver his gaol, at such a place, of the prisoners in it; for which purpose it commands them to meet at such a place, at such time as they themselves shall appoint; and informs them, that for the same purpose the king has commanded his sheriff of the same county to bring all the prisoners of the gaol, and their attachments, before them at the day appointed.