Barleybrake - Barrel

Prev Next

Coloq. Barley bird (Zoöl.), the siskin. -- Coloq. Barley sugar , sugar boiled till it is brittle (formerly with a decoction of barley) and candied. -- Coloq. Barley water , a decoction of barley, used in medicine, as a nutritive and demulcent.
[ Webster]

{ Barleybrake Barleybreak } (bärl�brāk), n. An ancient rural game, commonly played round stacks of barley, or other grain, in which some of the party attempt to catch others who run from a goal.
[ Webster]

Barley-bree (-brē), n. [Lit. barley broth. See .] Liquor made from barley; strong ale. [Humorous] [Scot.] Burns.
[ Webster]

Barleycorn (�), n. [See .] 1. A grain or “corn” of barley.
[ Webster]

2. Formerly , a measure of length, equal to the average length of a grain of barley; the third part of an inch.
[ Webster]

Coloq. John Barleycorn , a humorous personification of barley as the source of malt liquor or whisky.
[ Webster]

Barm (bärm), n. [OE. berme, AS. beorma; akin to Sw. bärma, G. bärme, and prob. L. fermentum. √93.] Foam rising upon beer, or other malt liquors, when fermenting, and used as leaven in making bread and in brewing; yeast. Shak.
[ Webster]

Barm, n. [OE. bearm, berm, barm, AS. bearm; akin to E. bear to support.] The lap or bosom. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Barmaid (�), n. A girl or woman who attends the customers of a bar, as in a tavern or beershop.
[ Webster]

A bouncing barmaid. W. Irving.
[ Webster]

Barmaster (�), n. [Berg + master: cf. G. Bergmeister.] Formerly, a local judge among miners; now, an officer of the barmote. [Eng.]
[ Webster]

Barmcloth (bärmklŏth), n. Apron. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Barmecidal (�), a. [See .] Unreal; illusory. “A sort of Barmecidal feast.” Hood.
[ Webster]

Barmecide (�), n. [A prince of the Barmecide family, who, as related in the “Arabian Nights' Tales”, pretended to set before the hungry Shacabac food, on which the latter pretended to feast.] One who proffers some illusory advantage or benefit. Also used as an adj.: Barmecidal. “A Barmecide feast.” Dickens.
[ Webster]

Barmote (bärmōt), n. [Berg + mote meeting.] A court held in Derbyshire, in England, for deciding controversies between miners. Blount.
[ Webster]

Barmy (bärm�), a. Full of barm or froth; in a ferment. “Barmy beer.” Dryden.
[ Webster]

Barn (bärn), n. [OE. bern, AS. berern, bern; bere barley + ern, ærn, a close place. √92. See .] A covered building used chiefly for storing grain, hay, and other productions of a farm. In the United States a part of the barn is often used for stables.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Barn owl (Zoöl.), an owl of Europe and America (Aluco flammeus, or Strix flammea), which frequents barns and other buildings. -- Coloq. Barn swallow (Zoöl.), the common American swallow (Hirundo horreorum), which attaches its nest of mud to the beams and rafters of barns.
[ Webster]

Barn, v. t. To lay up in a barn. [Obs.] Shak.
[ Webster]

Men . . . often barn up the chaff, and burn up the grain. Fuller.
[ Webster]

Barn, n. A child. See . [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Barnabite (�), n. (Eccl. Hist.) A member of a religious order, named from St. Barnabas.
[ Webster]

Barnacle (�), n. [Prob. from E. barnacle a kind of goose, which was popularly supposed to grow from this shellfish; but perh. from LL. bernacula for pernacula, dim. of perna ham, sea mussel; cf. Gr. perna ham. Cf. F. bernacle, barnacle, E. barnacle a goose; and Ir. bairneach, barneach, limpet.] (Zoöl.) Any cirriped crustacean adhering to rocks, floating timber, ships, etc., esp. (a) the sessile species (genus Balanus and allies), and (b) the stalked or goose barnacles (genus Lepas and allies). See , and .
[ Webster]

Coloq. Barnacle eater (Zoöl.), the orange filefish. -- Coloq. Barnacle scale (Zoöl.), a bark louse (Ceroplastes cirripediformis) of the orange and quince trees in Florida. The female scale curiously resembles a sessile barnacle in form.
[ Webster]

Barnacle, n. [See .] A bernicle goose.
[ Webster]

Barnacle, n. [OE. bernak, bernacle; cf. OF. bernac, and Prov. F. (Berri) berniques, spectacles.] 1. pl. (Far.) An instrument for pinching a horse's nose, and thus restraining him. [Formerly used in the sing.]
[ Webster]

The barnacles . . . give pain almost equal to that of the switch. Youatt.
[ Webster]

2. pl. Spectacles; -- so called from their resemblance to the barnacles used by farriers. [Cant, Eng.] Dickens.
[ Webster]

barnacled adj. 1. covered with barnacles. the barnacled hull of a wrecked ship
[WordNet 1.5]

Barnburner (?), n. [So called in allusion to the fable of the man who burned his barn in order to rid it of rats.] 1. A member of the radical section of the Democratic party in New York, about the middle of the 19th century, which was hostile to extension of slavery, public debts, corporate privileges, etc., and supported Van Buren against Cass for president in 1848; -- opposed to Hunker. [Political Cant, U. S.]
[Webster Suppl.]

2. an impressively successful or unusually good event. [informal] ”The rock concert was a real barnburner.”
[WordNet 1.5]

barndoor n. An opaque adjustable flap on a lamp fixture; used in photography to cut off light from particular areas.
[WordNet 1.5]

barnful n. 1. The quantity that a barn will hold.
[WordNet 1.5]

Barnstorm (?), v. i. & t. [Barn + storm, v.] 1. To travel from place to place, making brief stops.
[PJC]

2. To fly an airplane from place to place, usually at small airports, doing flying stunts or flying passengers for sightseeing, for the purpose of earning money.
[PJC]

3. to tour the country to solicit votes.
Syn. -- whistlestop.
[WordNet 1.5]

Barnstormer (?), n. [Barn + storm, v.] 1. An itinerant theatrical player who plays in barns when a theatre is lacking; hence, an inferior actor, or one who plays in the country away from the larger cities. -- Barnstorming, n. [Theatrical Cant]
[ Webster]

2. an aviator who flies an airplane from place to place, usually at small airports, doing flying stunts or flying passengers for sightseeing, for the purpose of earning money. It was a practise common in the early days of aviation, but by late 20th century was seldom encountered.
[PJC]

Barnyard (�), n. A yard belonging to a barn.
[ Webster]

Barocco (�), a. [It.] (Arch.) See .
[ Webster]

Barocyclonometer (?), n. [Gr. baros weight + cyclone + -meter.] (Meteorol.) An aneroid barometer for use with accompanying graphic diagrams and printed directions designed to aid mariners to interpret the indications of the barometer so as to determine the existence of a violent storm at a distance of several hundred miles.
[Webster Suppl.]

Barogram (?), n. [Gr. baros weight + -gram.] (Meteor.) A tracing, usually made by the barograph, showing graphically the variations of atmospheric pressure for a given time.
[Webster Suppl.]

Barograph (bȧrōk�), n. [Gr. baros weight + -graph.] (Meteor.) An instrument for recording automatically the variations of atmospheric pressure.
[ Webster]

Baroko (�), n. [A mnemonic word.] (Logic) A form or mode of syllogism of which the first proposition is a universal affirmative, and the other two are particular negatives.
[ Webster]

Barology (�), n. [Gr. baros weight + -logy.] The science of weight or gravity.
[ Webster]

Baromacrometer (�), n. [Gr. baros weight + makros long + -meter.] (Med.) An instrument for ascertaining the weight and length of a newborn infant.
[ Webster]

Barometer (�), n. [Gr. baros weight + -meter: cf. F. baromètre.] An instrument for determining the weight or pressure of the atmosphere, and hence for judging of the probable changes of weather, or for ascertaining the height of any ascent.
[ Webster]

☞ The barometer was invented by Torricelli at Florence about 1643. It is made in its simplest form by filling a graduated glass tube about 34 inches long with mercury and inverting it in a cup containing mercury. The column of mercury in the tube descends until balanced by the weight of the atmosphere, and its rise or fall under varying conditions is a measure of the change in the atmospheric pressure. At the sea level its ordinary height is about 30 inches (760 millimeters). See . Nichol.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Aneroid barometer . See Aneroid barometer, under . -- Coloq. Marine barometer , a barometer with tube contracted at bottom to prevent rapid oscillations of the mercury, and suspended in gimbals from an arm or support on shipboard. -- Coloq. Mountain barometer , a portable mercurial barometer with tripod support, and long scale, for measuring heights. -- Coloq. Siphon barometer , a barometer having a tube bent like a hook with the longer leg closed at the top. The height of the mercury in the longer leg shows the pressure of the atmosphere. -- Coloq. Wheel barometer , a barometer with recurved tube, and a float, from which a cord passes over a pulley and moves an index.
[ Webster]

{ Barometric (băr�mĕtrĭk), Barometrical (băr�mĕtrĭk�l), } a. Pertaining to the barometer; made or indicated by a barometer; as, barometric changes; barometrical observations.
[ Webster]

Barometrically, adv. By means of a barometer, or according to barometric observations.
[ Webster]

Barometrograph (băr�mĕtr�grȧf), n. [Gr. baros weight + metron measure + -graph.] A form of barometer so constructed as to inscribe of itself upon paper a record of the variations of atmospheric pressure.
[ Webster]

Barometry (�), n. The art or process of making barometrical measurements.
[ Webster]

Barometz (�), n. [Cf. Russ. baranets' clubmoss.] (Bot.) The woolly-skinned rhizoma or rootstock of a fern (Dicksonia barometz), which, when specially prepared and inverted, somewhat resembles a lamb; -- called also Scythian lamb.
[ Webster]

Baron (�), n. [OE. baron, barun, OF. baron, accus. of ber, F. baron, prob. fr. OHG. baro (not found) bearer, akin to E. bear to support; cf. O. Frisian bere, LL. baro, It. barone, Sp. varon. From the meaning bearer (of burdens) seem to have come the senses strong man, man (in distinction from woman), which is the oldest meaning in French, and lastly, nobleman. Cf. L. baro, simpleton. See to support.]
[ Webster]

1. A title or degree of nobility; originally, the possessor of a fief, who had feudal tenants under him; in modern times, in France and Germany, a nobleman next in rank below a count; in England, a nobleman of the lowest grade in the House of Lords, being next below a viscount.
[ Webster]

☞ “The tenants in chief from the Crown, who held lands of the annual value of four hundred pounds, were styled Barons; and it is to them, and not to the members of the lowest grade of the nobility (to whom the title at the present time belongs), that reference is made when we read of the Barons of the early days of England's history. . . . Barons are addressed as ‘My Lord,' and are styled ‘Right Honorable.' All their sons and daughters are ‘Honorable.'” Cussans.
[ Webster]

2. (Old Law) A husband; as, baron and feme, husband and wife. [R.] Cowell.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Baron of beef , two sirloins not cut asunder at the backbone. -- Coloq. Barons of the Cinque Ports , formerly members of the House of Commons, elected by the seven Cinque Ports, two for each port. -- Coloq. Barons of the exchequer , the judges of the Court of Exchequer, one of the three ancient courts of England, now abolished.
[ Webster]

Baronage (�), n. [OE. barnage, baronage, OF. barnage, F. baronnage; cf. LL. baronagium.]
[ Webster]

1. The whole body of barons or peers.
[ Webster]

The baronage of the kingdom. Bp. Burnet.
[ Webster]

2. The dignity or rank of a baron.
[ Webster]

3. The land which gives title to a baron. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

baronduki n. same as ; the terrestrial Siberian squirrel.
Syn. -- baranduki, barunduki, burunduki, Eutamius asiaticus, Eutamius sibiricus.
[WordNet 1.5]

Baroness (�), n. A baron's wife; also, a lady who holds the baronial title in her own right; as, the Baroness Burdett-Coutts.
[ Webster]

Baronet (�), n. [Baron + -et.] A dignity or degree of honor next below a baron and above a knight, having precedency of all orders of knights except those of the Garter. It is the lowest degree of honor that is hereditary. The baronets are commoners.
[ Webster]

☞ The order was founded by James I. in 1611, and is given by patent. The word, however, in the sense of a lesser baron, was in use long before. “Baronets have the title of 'Sir' prefixed to their Christian names; their surnames being followed by their dignity, usually abbreviated Bart. Their wives are addressed as 'Lady' or 'Madam'. Their sons are possessed of no title beyond 'Esquire.'” Cussans.
[ Webster]

Baronetage (�), n. 1. State or rank of a baronet.
[ Webster]

2. The collective body of baronets.
[ Webster]

Baronetcy (�), n. The rank or patent of a baronet.
[ Webster]

Barong (?), n. [Native name.] A kind of cutting weapon similar to a cleaver, with a thick back and thin razorlike edge, used by the Moros of the Philippine Islands.
[Webster Suppl.]

Baronial (�), a. Pertaining to a baron or a barony. “Baronial tenure.” Hallam.
[ Webster]

Barony (�), n.; pl. Baronies (�). [OF. baronie, F. baronnie, LL. baronia. See .] 1. The fee or domain of a baron; the lordship, dignity, or rank of a baron.
[ Webster]

2. In Ireland, a territorial division, corresponding nearly to the English hundred, and supposed to have been originally the district of a native chief. There are 252 of these baronies. In Scotland, an extensive freehold. It may be held by a commoner. Brande & C.
[ Webster]

Baroque (�), a. [F.; cf. It. barocco.] (Arch.) 1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, an artistic style common in the 17th century, characterized by the use of complex and elaborate ornamentation, curved rather than straight lines, and, in music a high degree of embellishment.
[PJC]

2. Hence, overly complicated, or ornamented to excess; in bad taste; grotesque; odd.
[ Webster +PJC]

3. Irregular in form; -- said esp. of a pearl.
[Webster Suppl.]

Baroscope (băr�skōp), n. [Gr. baros weight + -scope: cf. F. baroscope.] Any instrument showing the changes in the weight of the atmosphere; also, less appropriately, any instrument that indicates or foreshadows changes of the weather, as a deep vial of liquid holding in suspension some substance which rises and falls with atmospheric changes.
[ Webster]

{ Baroscopic (�), Baroscopical (�), } a. Pertaining to, or determined by, the baroscope.
[ Webster]

Barothermograph (?), n. [Gr. � weight + thermograph.] An instrument for recording both pressure and temperature, as of the atmosphere.
[Webster Suppl.]

Barouche (�), n. [G. barutsche, It. baroccio, biroccio, LL. barrotium, fr. L. birotus two-wheeled; bi- = bis twice + rota wheel.] A four-wheeled carriage, with a falling top, a seat on the outside for the driver, and two double seats on the inside arranged so that the sitters on the front seat face those on the back seat.
[ Webster]

Barouchet (�), n. A kind of light barouche.
[ Webster]

Barpost (�), n. A post sunk in the ground to receive the bars closing a passage into a field.
[ Webster]

Barque (�), n. Same as 3d , n.
[ Webster]

Barracan (�), n. [F. baracan, bouracan (cf. Pr. barracan, It. baracane, Sp. barragan, Pg. barregana, LL. barracanus), fr. Ar. barrakān a kind of black gown, perh. fr. Per. barak a garment made of camel's hair.] A thick, strong stuff, somewhat like camlet; -- still used for outer garments in the Levant.
[ Webster]

Barrack (�), n. [F. baraque, fr. It. baracca (cf. Sp. barraca), from LL. barra bar. See , n.]
[ Webster]

1. (Mil.) A building for soldiers, especially when in garrison. Commonly in the pl., originally meaning temporary huts, but now usually applied to a permanent structure or set of buildings.
[ Webster]

He lodged in a miserable hut or barrack, composed of dry branches and thatched with straw. Gibbon.
[ Webster]

2. A movable roof sliding on four posts, to cover hay, straw, etc. [Local, U.S.]
[ Webster]

Barrack, v. t. To supply with barracks; to establish in barracks; as, to barrack troops.
[ Webster]

Barrack, v. i. To live or lodge in barracks.
[ Webster]

Barraclade (�), n. [D. baar, OD. baer, naked, bare + kleed garment, i. e., cloth undressed or without nap.] A home-made woolen blanket without nap. [Local, New York] Bartlett.
[ Webster]

Barracoon (�), n. [Sp. or Pg. barraca. See .] A slave warehouse, or an inclosure where slaves are quartered temporarily. Du Chaillu.
[ Webster]

{ Barracuda (�), Barracouta (�), } (?), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) Any of several voracious pikelike marine fishes allied to the gray mullets, constituting the genus Sphyræna and family Sphyrænidæ. The great barracuda (Sphyræna barracuda) of the West Indies, Florida, etc., is often six feet or more long, and as dangerous as a shark. In Cuba its flesh is reputed to be poisonous. Sphyræna Argentea of the Pacific coast and Sphyræna sphyræna of Europe are smaller species, and are used as food.
[Webster Suppl.]

☞ That of Europe and our Atlantic coast is Sphyræna spet (or Sphyræna vulgaris); a southern species is Sphyræna picuda; the Californian is Sphyræna argentea.
[ Webster]

2. (Zoöl.) A large edible fresh-water fish of Australia and New Zealand (Thyrsites atun).
[ Webster]

Barrage (�), n. [F., fr. barrer to bar, from barre bar.] (Engin.) An artificial bar or obstruction placed in a river or watercourse to increase the depth of water; as, the barrages of the Nile.
[ Webster]

Barramundi (?), n. [Written also barramunda.] [Native name.] (Zoöl.) (a) A remarkable Australian fresh-water ganoid fish of the genus Ceratodus. (b) An Australian river fish (Osteoglossum Leichhardtii).
[Webster Suppl.]

Barranca (�), n. [Sp.] A ravine caused by heavy rains or a watercourse. [Texas & N. Mex.]
[ Webster]

Barras (�), n. [F.] A resin, called also galipot.
[ Webster]

Barrator (�), n. [OE. baratour, OF. barateor deceiver, fr. OF. barater, bareter, to deceive, cheat, barter. See , v. i.] One guilty of barratry.
[ Webster]

Barratrous (�), a. (Law) Tainted with, or constituting, barratry. -- Barratrously, adv. Kent.
[ Webster]

Barratry (�), n. [Cf. F. baraterie, LL. barataria. See , and cf. .] 1. (Law) The practice of exciting and encouraging lawsuits and quarrels. [Also spelt barretry.] Coke. Blackstone.
[ Webster]

2. (Mar. Law) A fraudulent breach of duty or willful act of known illegality on the part of a master of a ship, in his character of master, or of the mariners, to the injury of the owner of the ship or cargo, and without his consent. It includes every breach of trust committed with dishonest purpose, as by running away with the ship, sinking or deserting her, etc., or by embezzling the cargo. Kent. Park.
[ Webster]

3. (Scots Law) The crime of a judge who is influenced by bribery in pronouncing judgment. Wharton.
[ Webster]

Barred owl (�). (Zoöl.) A large American owl (Syrnium nebulosum); -- so called from the transverse bars of a dark brown color on the breast.
[ Webster]

Barrel (bărrĕl), n.[OE. barel, F. baril, prob. fr. barre bar. Cf. .] 1. A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends or heads; as, a cracker barrel. Sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical container made of metal, usually called a drum.
[ Webster +PJC]

2. The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies for different articles and also in different places for the same article, being regulated by custom or by law. A barrel of wine is 311/2 gallons; a barrel of flour is 196 pounds.
[ Webster]

3. A solid drum, or a hollow cylinder or case; as, the barrel of a windlass; the barrel of a watch, within which the spring is coiled.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z