A person who guarantees that someone else will appear in court or pay a debt, often by putting up money as security.
From Middle English 'bond' (a binding agreement) plus 'man.' The word dates to the 15th century and originally referred to any man bound by contract, but specialized into legal contexts for bail and debt guarantees.
Bondsmen were crucial to how bail worked historically—they essentially became accountable for someone else's behavior, which is why they'd often hire bounty hunters if someone tried to skip town. This created an entire underworld economy of risk assessment and enforcement.
Legal/financial terminology used 'bondsman' as male default for centuries, even when women worked as bail agents and sureties. Erased women's participation in financial systems.
Use 'bail agent' or 'surety' for gender-neutral precision. Specify 'bondsman/bondswoman' only if historical or role distinction is relevant.
["bail agent","surety"]
Women have worked as bail agents and financial intermediaries since colonial times; male-coded language obscured their economic agency.
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