Bond

Bond, bond, n. that which binds, a band: link of connection or union: a writing of obligation to pay a sum or to perform a contract: any constraining or any cementing force: in building, the connection of one stone or brick with another, made by lapping the one over the other as the work is carried up, as in English bond, Flemish bond, &c.: (pl.) imprisonment, captivity.—adj. bound: in a state of servitude.—v.t. to put imported goods in the customs' warehouses till the duties on them are paid—hence Bonded stores or warehouses, To take out of bond, &c.—p.adj. Bond′ed, secured by bond, as duties.—ns. Bond′er, a binding stone or brick; Bond′-hold′er, a person who holds bonds of a private person or public company; Bond′ing, that arrangement by which goods remain in the customs' warehouses till the duties are paid; Bond′maid, Bond′woman, Bonds′woman, a woman-slave; Bond′man, a man-slave; Bond′manship; Bond′serv′ant, a slave; Bond′-serv′ice, the condition of a bond-servant: slavery; Bond′-slave, a slave; Bonds′man, a bondman or slave: a surety; Bond′-stone, a stone which reaches a considerable distance into or entirely through a wall for the purpose of binding it together; Bond′-tim′ber, timber built into a wall as it is carried up for the purpose of binding it together in a longitudinal direction.—Bonded debt, the debt of a corporation represented by the bonds it has issued, as contrasted with its floating debt. [A variant of band—A.S. bindan, to bind.]