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
Edmure escorted her up the water stair and across the lower bailey, where Petyr Baelish and Brandon Stark had once crossed swords for her favor.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
She was trotting by the time she reached the castle bailey, with Tris dogging her heels, but even so she came too late.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Across the bailey, long tongues of flame shot from the windows of the library.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
"Even at the best of times, queer culture is vulnerable and you can't take anything for granted," Bailey told BBC News.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
To paraphrase stylist Bailey Rose Quiñones, they’re ready to shed old selves.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
According to Prof David Bailey of Birmingham Business School, "electricity is a fundamental input into modern industrial production".
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
Stewart has shown improvement as a second-year pro, and Bailey was the only undrafted rookie to make the team.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
Bailey looks at the arc of cards and frowns.
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
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 Dorothy Scarborough
The Normans called the two courts in front of their castles the inner and outer baileys; and the officer in charge of them was called the bailiff.
From A Brief History of the English Language and Literature, Vol. 2 by John Miller Dow Meiklejohn
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 Gordon Home
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.
