How to pronounce “motte and bailey”

Meaning

• [Noun]
• The predecessor of the European castle, having a raised earth mound (the motte) topped with a tower (or donjon), and a wooden ring fortification surrounding a courtyard (the bailey).
• A form of argument and an informal fallacy where an arguer conflates two similar positions, one modest and easier to defend (the "motte") and one much more controversial (the "bailey"), by advancing the controversial position, but when challenged, insisting that they are only advancing the more modest position.

Practice Nearby Words

motte-and-bailey, motte, moat, mount, mound, massymore, bergmote, martello tower, burghmote, berghmote, mile-fortlet, milefortlet, moundwork, milecastle, mabey bridge, merlon, portmote, ant mound, mound royal, termite mound, maenor, moundlet, monticule, shiremote, mole-bank, morne, murrion, moundbuilding, mote, moundbuilder, mound-builder, mastaba, matafunda, morrion, mategriffon, commot, moon, moellon, mootman, bed-mould, motty, muleton, mock tudor, mounture, moel, moorpan, mortress, molehead, martello, moorish arch, morai, moortop, merestead, mund, millhouse, moot, mound builder, morland, tower, mentoniere, marquisdom, moore, morion, portmantua, moreland, moorman, modillion, motive, mulley, moundsman, mole hill, mistal, monture, macebearer, mansion, morian, mezquita, mountlet, molehill, tun-moot, monkery, monticulus, mead bench, mease, mare, mouline, marlock, monial, marquise, moyle, mere, multon, mark, molecast, mounter, marquessate, moorer, mortmainer, mutule, mott

Similar Sounds

nut and bolt, nathan bailey, martindale, mondale, mondello, mandola, mission bells, cotton balls, cotton ball, cotton boll