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# jailer

noun (a jailer, jailers); also spelled gaoler (UK, old)

«jailer» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A person whose job is to look after the prisoners in a jail and keep them locked in. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jailer/#m1)

### In the lessons

In stories and history lessons the jailer holds the keys, brings food and guards the cells. In The Wind in the Willows Toad is locked in a dungeon, and the gaoler's daughter, who feels sorry for him, helps him escape dressed as a washerwoman. Today the job is called «prison officer» or «correctional officer» (USA).

### Examples

- The jailer turned the big iron key in the lock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jailer/#x1)
- Toad escaped with the help of the gaoler's daughter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jailer/#x2)
- The jailer brought the prisoners bread and water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jailer/#x3)
- In the Bible, Paul and Silas sang in prison and the jailer listened. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jailer/#x4)
- Today a jailer is usually called a prison officer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jailer/#x5)
- The jailer fell asleep, and the hero crept out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jailer/#x6)

### Note

«Gaoler» is the old British spelling and is said exactly like «jailer». Also spelled «jailor». Do not confuse with «jail» (the place) and «jailbird» (a prisoner, informal).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «jailer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jailer/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«jailer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/jailer.html) on Mova free.