ballium

Both these castles are enclosed by a court or ballium, with a fortified entrance, like those erected by the Normans.

And a scuffle of wrestling men sent its fearful, deathlike sound through the dark ballium.

The keep and inner ballium was still their own as a place of retreat, however short a period it might remain so.

Within is another line of walls with towers, called the Inner Ballium, having various buildings interspersed.

High walls with an embattled parapet surround the lower court, or ballium, which we enter by a gate defended by strong towers.