Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A wall or palisade surrounding the structures protected by a medieval fort or castle, especially the outer wall of a castle.
- noun The space enclosed by this wall.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The external wall of defense about a feudal castle (see
bail ); by extension, any of the circuits of wall other than a keep or donjon, that is, any line of defense other than the innermost one. - noun As used by later writers, the outer court or base-court of a castle; by extension, any court of a defensive post used with a distinctive epithet.
- noun Also
ballium . - noun See
bailie .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun obsolete The outer wall of a feudal castle.
- noun obsolete The space immediately within the outer wall of a castle or fortress.
- noun engraving A prison or court of justice; -- used in certain proper names.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The outer wall of a
feudal castle . - noun The space immediately within the outer wall of a castle or
fortress . - noun A
prison or court ofjustice ; -- used in certain proper names; as, the Old Bailey in London; the New Bailey in Manchester.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun English lexicographer who was the first to treat etymology consistently; his work was used as a reference by Samuel Johnson (died in 1742)
- noun the outer defensive wall that surrounds the outer courtyard of a castle
- noun the outer courtyard of a castle
- noun United States singer (1918-1990)
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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10: 28 PM jean pierre said ... its definitely one of the perks of living in england! also walking through the streets and looking up at old buildings and being convinced that old bailey is up there ...
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It's 'bail' or 'bailey' - an anglo-saxon word meaning fortification, adopted by the Irish as 'Baile'.
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Aussenhof means outer court, which is what the English call a bailey, so the character is called “George Bailey,” and suddenly, a Kafka short story is transformed, with mad logic, into It’s a Wonderful Life.
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This wromgful conviction took place at the old bailey which is one of the oldest seats of judgement in the world.
Army Rumour Service 2010
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"We are also looking at the bailey which is the area within the castle walls," said Michael.
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An ogre with hairlike stone spikes topped the wall, swung his arm, and knocked five archers over, into the bailey.
GuildWars Edge of Destiny J. Robert King 2011
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May 28, 2010, 2: 20 pm dave lloyd says: bailey: Great analogy, DL. Of course, you realize that the oil rigstarted its current drilling during the Obama Administration, right?
The Volokh Conspiracy » It’s Not the Crime, It’s the Cover-Up — Sestak Edition 2010
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Or you could keep your current name, bailey, and keep inventing stuff and live in your own separate reality where little starbursts shoot out from the screen when Sarah Palin winks.
The Volokh Conspiracy » It’s Not the Crime, It’s the Cover-Up — Sestak Edition 2010
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The call was echoed along the wall and throughout the bailey below.
GuildWars Edge of Destiny J. Robert King 2011
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Crystalline hyenas ran rampant through the bailey and feasted on the fallen.
GuildWars Edge of Destiny J. Robert King 2011
chained_bear commented on the word bailey
Weirdnet #2...??
Defended courtyard or ward of a castle. Open area enclosed by the castle walls.
August 24, 2008