beyond the pail [sic]

[Baker, John]

        I don't think this is right.  The figurative use of "beyond the pale" goes back at least to 1795, which is a little early for a reference to the Pale of Settlement:  "But if he had been the officer, there was no such discretionary power confided to him; and in making such an exchange he went beyond the pale of his duty, unless directed by the court on the application of the party interested."  Mott v. Pettit, 1 N.J.L. 298 (N.J. 1795).  The OED takes the similar term "without the pale" back to 1654 ("without the pale of the Church").

John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: David Bergdahl [mailto:einstein at FROGNET.NET]
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 4:22 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: beyond the pail [sic]


"BEYOND THE PALE" refers to the provinces in Russia where Jews were forced
to live during the 18th and 19th centuries, called "The Pale of Settlement."
[http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/beyond-the-pale/english/why.html]