bailey Hear it!

bailey Definition

bai·ley ()

noun pl. -·leys

the outer wall or court of a medieval castle

Etymology: ME baili, var. of baile, bail

Bailey Definition

Bai·ley ()

Bailey, Nathan(iel) died 1742; Eng. lexicographer

bailey Usage Examples

Preposition: of

castle: The large area of grass is within the outer bailey of the castle.

Converse of object

  • surround: The keep towers over the walls surrounding the inner bailey with King's Gate in the center of the picture.
  • form: Located within the curtain wall, a series of 12th century buildings forming the inner bailey now exist only at foundation level.
  • have: Unusually the castle has two baileys both of which originally had stone walls.
  • give: After this the military importance of the castle declined and in 1345 the King gave the two baileys to the city of Norwich.
  • construct: However, when Sir Walter had the outer bailey constructed, a barbican was added to the exterior of the inner gate.

Adjective modifier

  • outer: The large area of grass is within the outer bailey of the castle.
  • inner: Today the inner bailey is entered via a bridge over the moat toward the south of the castle.
  • low: The lower bailey would have been bordered by a timber palisade with a ditch outside.
  • large: The large outer bailey has lodgings, a prison and stables backing onto the curtain.
  • old: You can still see where the old bailey used to be.
  • walled: It consisted of a massive gatehouse and a walled bailey, approached by a wooden drawbridge.

Modifies a noun

  • castle: Motte and bailey castles were built out of weaker wood and builders were limited to the size and height they could go to.
  • bridge: The end of the River Derwent for us, the bailey bridge above Broken Bridge.
  • ball: On the bailey ball bar is open at 7pm till 1am.
  • wall: The bailey wall that exists today was built in 1088 for William II by Gundulf, the bishop of Rochester.
  • room: SD: Turn bailey room into chill zone with decorations.
  • type: The first building was of the motte and bailey type of structure.

Noun used with modifier

  • castle: Situated in the upper part of the castle bailey it has long been a natural market place.
  • bill: Bill bailey is as funny in this sitcom as he is in stand up.