Obs. [? f. BAIL sb.3 barrier: see DOCK.] At the Old Bailey, London, (formerly) ‘a small room taken from one of the corners of the court, and left open at the top; in which, during the trials, are put some of the malefactors.’ Scots Mag., 1753, XV. 42/1.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., III. 159. The sessions is dissolved, the bench and bale-docke cleered.
1662. Ellwood, Autobiog. (1767), 148. Away I was taken and thrust into the Bail-dock to my other Friends who had been called before me.
1670. Penn, Truth Rescued, 8. I was commanded to the Bale-Dock for Turbulency and Impertinency.
1716. Lond. Gaz., No. 5399/3. James Goodman … made his Escape … by leaping over the Spikes of the Bail-Dock and the Rails at the Sessions-House in the Old-Baily.
1823. Lamb, Elia (1860), 72. I remember Penn before his accusers, and Fox in the bail-dock.
