bailey

views updated Jun 08 2018

bai·ley / ˈbālē/ • n. (pl. -leys) the outer wall of a castle. ∎  a court enclosed by this.

bailey

views updated May 29 2018

bailey.
1. External wall or defences surrounding a keep or motte of a medieval castle.

2. Area between the circuits of walls or defences of a castle, also called a ward, or any court within the walls, hence outer bailey or inner bailey.

bailey

views updated Jun 27 2018

bailey (court within) wall surrounding castle XIII. ME. bail(l)y, var. baile, prob. — OF. bail(l)e enclosed court. The Old Bailey in London stood in the ancient ‘bailey’ of the city wall between Ludgate and Newgate.

bailey

views updated Jun 11 2018

bailey the outer wall of a castle and a court enclosed by it. Recorded from Middle English, the word probably comes from Old French baile ‘palisade, enclosure’.