What is "beyond the pale"

Pale \Pale\, n. [F. pal, fr. L. palus: cf. D. paal. See Pole a stake, and 1st Pallet.]

1. A pointed stake or slat, either driven into the ground, or fastened to a rail at the top and bottom, for fencing or inclosing; a picket.

   Deer creep through when a pale tumbles down.
   --Mortimer.

2. That which incloses or fences in; a boundary; a limit; a fence; a palisade. ``Within one pale or hedge.''
   --Robynson (More's Utopia).

3. A space or field having bounds or limits; a limited region or place; an inclosure; -- often used figuratively. ``To walk the studious cloister's pale.''
   --Milton. ``Out of the pale of civilization.''
   --Macaulay.

4. Hence: A region within specified bounds, whether or not enclosed or demarcated.

5. A stripe or band, as on a garment.
   --Chaucer.

6. (Her.) One of the greater ordinaries, being a broad perpendicular stripe in an escutcheon, equally distant from the two edges, and occupying one third of it.

7. A cheese scoop.
   --Simmonds.

8. (Shipbuilding) A shore for bracing a timber before it is fastened.

   English pale, Irish pale (Hist.), the limits or territory in Eastern Ireland within which alone the English conquerors of Ireland held dominion for a long period after their invasion of the country by Henry II in 1172. See note, below.

   beyond the pale outside the limits of what is allowed or proper; also, outside the limits within which one is protected.
   --Spencer.

   Note: The English Pale. That part of Ireland in which English law was acknowledged, and within which the dominion of the English was restricted, for some centuries after the conquests of Henry II. John distributed the part of Ireland then subject to England into 12 counties palatine, and this region became subsequently known as the Pale, but the limits varied at different times.

prep.phr. 1 (&lit beyond pale) 2 (context idiomatic of a behaviour or person English) Outside the bounds of morality, acceptable behaviour or good judgement, etc.

Beyond the Pale may refer to:

• The Pale, a demarcation line in Ireland while under English dominion; a usage associated with the phrase "beyond the pale", meaning unacceptable behaviour.

In radio:

• Beyond the Pale (radio program), a radio show about Jewish culture and politics

In cinema:

• Beyond the Pale (film), a 1999 award-winning drama written by Patrick Clarke & George Bazala
• Zeitgeist: Beyond the Pale, the upcoming fourth installment in Peter Joseph's Zeitgeist film series.

In music and comedy:

• Beyond the Pale (band), a Canadian klezmer and folk music band
• Beyond the Pale (Fiona album)
• Beyond the Pale (Jim Gaffigan album), a comedy album
• Beyond the Pale, an album by The Dark Poets, with Gary Lucas.
• Beyond the Pale, an album by X-Fusion
• "Beyond the Pale", a song by Kerry Livgren/ AD from their 1984 album "Time Line"
• "Beyond the Pale", a song by Big Audio Dynamite from No. 10, Upping St.
• "Beyond the Pale", a song by Pain of Salvation from Remedy Lane
• "Beyond the Pale", a song by Exodus from their 2010 album "Exhibit B: The Human Condition"
• "Beyond the Pale", a song by Mission UK from their 1988 album Children
• "Beyond the Pale", a song by Mudvayne from their eponymous album

In literature:

• Beyond the Pale (book), a novel in the Last Rune series by Mark Anthony
• Beyond the Pale Publications, a company in Northern Ireland
• "Beyond the Pale" (Kipling story), a short story by Rudyard Kipling, collected in Plain Tales from the Hills
• Beyond the Pale, a novel by Elana Dykewomon

Beyond the Pale is the second studio album by singer Fiona, released in 1986 through Atlantic Records and reissued in 2004 through Wounded Bird Records.

Beyond the Pale is the sixth album released by American stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan.

Beyond the Pale is a Toronto-based Canadian world/roots fusion band. Their style is rooted in klezmer, Balkan and Romanian music but heavily accented with contemporary and North American styles including bluegrass, jazz, reggae, funk and classical chamber music. The name of the band evokes Eastern-European Pale of Settlement.

Beyond the Pale is a 2000 film, directed by George Bazala starring Patrick Clarke.

Beyond the Pale is a weekly radio program broadcast on WBAI New York which "explores cutting edge Jewish culture and offers local, national, and international political debate and analysis from a Jewish perspective". It is sponsored by Jews for Racial & Economic Justice.