I replied to someone else, with evidence, that the origin of the phrase is not prejudiced. I recalled I had access to the OED online and it also supports this.

I replied to someone else, with evidence, that the origin of the phrase is not prejudiced. I recalled I had access to the OED online and it also supports this. Furthermore, it says about the phrase "The theory that the origin of the phrase relates to any of several specific regions, such as the area of Ireland formerly called the Pale or the Pale of Settlement in Russia, is not supported by the early historical evidence and is likely to be a later rationalization."