bailey
noun
the defensive wall surrounding an outer court of a castle.
bailey
1 American
[bey-lee]
/ ˈbeɪ li /
noun
-
baileys
plural
-
the defensive wall surrounding an outer court of a castle.
-
the courtyard itself.
Bailey
2
American
[bey-lee]
/ ˈbeɪ li /
noun
-
Liberty Hyde, 1858–1954, U.S. botanist, horticulturist, and writer.
-
Nathan or Nathaniel, died 1742, English lexicographer.
Bailey
1
British
/ ˈbeɪlɪ /
noun
-
David . born 1938, English photographer
-
Nathan or Nathaniel . died 1742, English lexicographer: compiler of An Universal Etymological English Dictionary (1721–27)
bailey
2
British
/ ˈbeɪlɪ /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bailey
1250–1300; Middle English, variant of bail 4
Explanation
A bailey is the sturdy wall around a castle that keeps invaders out. The bailey of a medieval castle was usually built of stone. You might see a bailey — or the remains of one — if you tour a castle in England or France. The word bailey is used both to describe the defensive wall around a castle courtyard, or sometimes the courtyard itself. This type of castle design was especially common in twelfth century England. The word comes from the Old French bail, "stake, palisade, or brace," which may be rooted in the Latin bacula, "sticks."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In Castle Pulverbatch lie the remains of a motte and bailey castle, believed to be more than 1,000 years old.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
Garbis Chekerdjian, a real-estate developer and construction-company owner from Lebanon, sat with his wife, Sonia, and several compatriots at one of the tables on the castle’s bailey.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 21, 2015
Pump boys were feverishly bringing water to the great tubs —it was one of those futile castles, which appear to have originated in Ireland, whose bailey was without a well.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
TTie carpenters had erected a gallery and lists in the outer bailey.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Beneath the hill was the bailey, with its stables, paddock, smithy, well, and sheepfold, defended by a deep ditch, a sloping earthen dike, and a palisade of logs.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
The 33-year-old Grande had been slated to star opposite her "Wicked" castmate Jonathan Bailey in the Stephen Sondheim musical "Sunday in The Park with George" in the summer of 2027 at London's Barbican theater.
From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026
Even Barnum and Bailey treated the noble animal with more decorum than Mr. Firman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
“Our job is to make sure any increase in inflation is temporary,” said Gov. Andrew Bailey.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
That also means major outgoings for fringe players like Leon Bailey or Evann Guessand - back in training after the World Cup with the Ivory Cost - are not necessarily expected while Villa are away.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Bailey takes a closer look as he walks by, wondering if the contortionist is somehow concealed in the platform, but it is solid wood and open underneath.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
If the barbican fell, the castle still had two courtyards, or baileys, from which last gasp fighting could be carried out.
From Salon ● Apr. 6, 2019
Headed toward DC on route 50 and was just after the baileys crossroads interchange when I saw a brilliant, bright green streak across the sky and sputter our just over the horizon.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 11, 2018
The outer baileys are defended by some great towers of massive Norman masonry from which you look all over the town and surrounding country.
From Normandy, Illustrated, Part 1 by Home, Gordon
Why, the bum baileys do come into his house, and claw away all his goods and furniture.
From John Bull The Englishman's Fireside: A Comedy, in Five Acts by Colman, George
Some sort of seneschal met us with a light and led us below the twilight arches, where beyond, I could catch glimpses of the baileys and courts and the donjon tower against the heavy ramparts.
From Humorous Ghost Stories by Scarborough, Dorothy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
