Word
bailey
Phoneticsbai·ley
US/ˈbeɪɫi/
UK/bˈeɪli/
Definitions
01castle courtyard
n. the open area or courtyard inside the outer walls of a castle.
n. the enclosed area or courtyard within the outer defensive walls of a medieval castle or fortress.
“The soldiers gathered in the bailey to prepare for the king's arrival.”
“The inner bailey was heavily protected, serving as the final line of defence should the outer walls be breached by the invading army.”
Technical
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'motte and bailey' to describe early castle designs.
02castle wall
n. the outer wall that protects a castle.
n. the outer defensive wall of a feudal castle.
“Archers stood along the bailey to watch for enemies approaching from the woods.”
“The stone bailey replaced the original wooden palisade as the fortification was upgraded during the twelfth century.”
Archaic · Technical
Synonyms
03rhetorical fallacy
n. a difficult or controversial idea that someone tries to defend after making a much simpler claim.
n. the controversial or difficult-to-defend position in a 'motte-and-bailey' fallacy, where a speaker retreats to a simpler 'motte' when challenged.
“The politician used a bailey argument that sounded good but was impossible to prove.”
“In philosophical debate, the bailey represents the ambitious but vulnerable claim that the speaker truly wants to advance despite its logical weaknesses.”
Academic
Usage
Almost exclusively used within the context of discussing the 'motte-and-bailey' fallacy.
Teaching tip
This is a very niche term used in logic and internet-era rhetoric; most native speakers will only know the castle-related meaning.
Real-World Examples
“Nepal has requested that its neighbours, India and China, provide bailey bridges to reopen transport and communication in an area where about two dozen bridges have been destroyed.” Etymology
(English topographic surname): See bailey (“outer castle wall”)
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.