basse court

English

Etymology

From French basse-cour.

Noun

basse court (plural basse courts)

1. An inner courtyard of a castle or other large building.
   • 1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 80:

     One day Arthur took Ogier aside, and informed him that Capalus, king of the Luitons, incessantly attacked the castle of Faerie with design to eject king Arthur from its dominion, and was accustomed to penetrate to the basse court, calling on Arthur to come out engage him.

   • 1867, James Hine, Plympton in the Olden Time, Plymouth: Isiah W. N. Keyes, page 5:

     The basse court has long been a quiet village green, and the site of the ballium wall where stern warriors peered over frowning battlements, is now a "lover's walk".

2. (law, obsolete) A lower court.