bailey bridge
Preserved but no longer current.
The name given in World War II to a metal bridge made of easily portable sections of amazing strength which could be speedily erected. A major factor in the rapidity of Allied advances, particularly in N.W. Europe, was the employment of these bridges. They were invented by the British engineer, D. C. Bailey.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “bailey bridge” mean?
The name given in World War II to a metal bridge made of easily portable sections of amazing strength which could be speedily erected. A major factor in the rapidity of Allied advances, particularly in N.W. Europe, was the employment of these bridges. They were invented by the British engineer, D. C. Bailey.
Is “bailey bridge” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.