bailey — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The outer wall of a feudal castle.

2. The space immediately within the outer wall of a castle or fortress.

3. A prison or court of justice.

   Usage

   • in certain proper names

   Examples

   the Old Bailey in London; the New Bailey in Manchester

4. An argument which is controversial and more difficult to defend (in the context of a motte and bailey fallacy).

   Examples

   "Birds are dinosaurs" is the bailey; "birds are more similar to dinosaurs than anything else" is the motte.

Noun

1. the outer courtyard of a castle

   Broader terms

   courtcourtyard

2. the outer defensive wall that surrounds the outer courtyard of a castle

   Broader terms

   rampartbulwarkwall