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Motte and bailey
Meaning
Noun
●
The
predecessor
of the
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
.
Sourced from
Wiktionary
Synonyms
Motte-And-Bailey
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