The idiom “over the edge” refers to crossing societal boundaries. “Pale” comes from an ancient word for a wooden stake used to make fences or borders. The phrase “beyond pale” originated in 14th century Ireland, where it referred to going beyond the English Crown’s control. It can also refer to punishment for misbehavior. The phrase has been used in literature and music and is still commonly used in Ireland.
The idiom “over the edge” is used to describe an action that crosses society’s boundaries and is unacceptable. Literally, a “pale” is an ancient word for a wooden stake, several of which could be pushed together to make a fence or border. As such, the use of the word “pale” in this way is also related to the word “impale”. Both “pale” and “impale” have their roots in the Latin word palus, which means stake. When someone went “over the edge,” they literally went over a fence or crossed a border, entering an area they weren’t allowed or advised to go.
The word “pale” has been used to describe various places that someone was not permitted or advised to pass through throughout England’s history. The most famous use of the word comes from Ireland and is probably where the phrase “beyond pale” came into common usage. The pales referred to the parts of Ireland which were controlled by the English Crown. When someone went “over the edge” in 14th century Ireland, he was going beyond the boundaries where the institutions, society and law of Great Britain were in force. Although an English idiom, the phrase is still commonly used in Ireland.
Another commonly accepted origin of the phrase is to refer to punishment for someone who has misbehaved. A person who has broken a law or failed to behave according to accepted rules may be forced to leave the precincts of a community or city. If the person was forced out of this fenced and protected area, it could be said that the person was being sent “over the edge”.
While its usage in Ireland may have put it into common usage, the idiom can first be found in print in a work called The Story of Polindor and Flostella from 1657. The phrase continues to be used in literature and in music. Beyond the Pale was released as a film in 1999; lends itself to the album title of Fiona, The Dark Poets and Jim Gaffigan; and is the name of several songs, musical groups and ensembles. Literary works that use the phrase as a title include novels by Mark Anthony and Elana Dykewomon and a short story by Rudyard Kipling. A publishing company in Northern Ireland is also called Beyond the Pale.
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