# bailey

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbeɪli/ · frequency rank #6,439

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

## Etymology
From Old French baile (“palisade, enclosure”), from Latin bacula, plural of baculum (“stick, rod”).

## Easily confused with
- **bale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-bale)
- **bile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-bile)
- **billy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-billy)
- **bales** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-bales)
- **bally** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-bally)
- **balmy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-balmy)
- **baldy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-baldy)
- **bails** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-bails)
- **ballet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-ballet)
- **boiler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-boiler)
- **boiled** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-boiled)
- **Barney** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-barney)
- **barley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-barley)
- **Baines** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-baines)
- **baller** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-baller)
- **burley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-burley)
- **baited** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-baited)
- **balled** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-balled)
- **blimey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-blimey)
- **Bradley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bailey-vs-bradley)

## Common misspellings (8)
`abiley`, `baiely`, `baileyy`, `bailley`, `bailye`, `baliey`, `bbailey`, `bialey`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bailey