| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Bailey. | | |
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The space enclosed within the external walls of a castle, not including the “Keep.” The entrance was over a drawbridge, and through the embattled gate (Middle-age Latin balium or ballium, a corruption of vallum, a rampart). | 1 |
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When there were two courts to a castle, they were distinguished as the outer and inner bailey (rampart). Subsequently the word included the court and all its buildings; and when the court was abolished, the term was attached to the castle, as the Old Bailey (London) and the Bailey (Oxford). | 2 |
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