bailey

See also: Bailey

English

Etymology

From Old French baile (“palisade, enclosure”), baillier (“to enclose”), from Medieval Latin ballium. Possible influence from baculum (“stick, rod”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbeɪli/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪli

Noun

bailey (plural baileys)

1. The outer wall of a feudal castle.
2. The space immediately within the outer wall of a castle or fortress.
3. (in certain proper names) A prison or court of justice.

   the Old Bailey in London; the New Bailey in Manchester

Derived terms

• motte and bailey

Translations

outer wall of a castle

• Finnish: ulkomuuri

space contained by the outer wall of a castle

• Finnish: linnanpiha

References

• “bailey”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.