Middle English Dictionary Entry
baille n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | baille n.(2) Also baile, bail(l)i, bali. |
| Etymology | OF bai(l)le, balie; cp. ML ballium. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The wall surrounding a castle or fortified city; (b) a court within such a wall, or between several such walls surrounding a castle.
Associated quotations
a
- [ a1200 Gloss.Sidonius (Dgb 172)32/22 : Uallatus circumdatus, quoniam uallum romanice dicitur balie. ]
- [ a1200 Gloss.Sidonius (Dgb 172)40/27 : Uallatus i. circumdatus a uallo, quod romanice dicitur bailli. ]
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)805 : Þreo bayles..Þat wiþ þe carnels beþ so wel I-set..þe Inemaste Bayle..Bi-tokneþ hire holy Maidenhod [etc.].
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1083 : Anvnder mone so gret merwayle No fleschly hert ne myȝt endeure, As quen I blusched vpon þat baly [?read: bayle]; So ferly þerof watz þe fasure.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)8123 : Some seyden, to the Baylle they wolden go and that besegen.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)383/195 : Beholdes, oure baill is brokynne, And brosten are alle oure bandis of bras.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)113 : They com to the baill [F baille] of the toure well arrayde hem to diffende..somme seide that thei wolde ley siege environ the baile [F baille].
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9893 : Bailles [Göt: baylis; Trin-C: bailyes; Ld: bayleis] has þis castel thre, Wit walles thrin semeli to se.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.121/7 : A mud wall in the bailly by the hie strete..Fallith doun gobet-mele in-to the hie strete.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)76/769 : Opon þe morn within þe bayle, When þai wer gederd to counsayle In preue place [etc.].
2.
In names.
Associated quotations
- (1298) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)1.138 : [A tenement in] le Bail [parish of S. Sepulchre without Neugate].
- (1311) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)1.221 : [Shops in] le Bailly [without Ludegate].
- (1429-30) Deed Yks.in YASRS 39142 : Quandam parcellam wasti in Richm', in le Baille.
- (1445) Reg.Chanc.Oxf.in OHS 93128 : Iohannes Baylymason.
- (1448) Cart.St.John in OHS 68387 : Iohannes Baylymason.
- (1459) Lin.DDoc.117/16 : And my Body to be buryed in the Churche of seynt Petres in the Baylly of Oxford.
- (1459) Lin.DDoc.118/16 : Seint petres in the Bayly of Oxford.