Barnacle Bar"na·cle noun [ Middle English bernak , bernacle ; confer Old French bernac , and Prov. F. (Berri) berniques , spectacles.] 1. plural (Far.) An instrument for pinching a horse's nose, and thus restraining him. [ Formerly used in the sing. ]

The barnacles . . . give pain almost equal to that of the switch.

Youatt.

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

Barnburner Barn"burn`er noun [ So called in allusion to the fable of the man who burned his barn in order to rid it of rats.] 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.]

Barnstormer Barn"storm`er noun [ Barn + storm , v.] 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. -- Barn"storm`ing , noun [ Theatrical Cant]

Barnyard Barn"yard` noun A yard belonging to a barn.

Barocco Ba·roc"co adjective [ Italian ] (Architecture) See Baroque .

Barocyclonometer Bar`o·cy`clon·om"e·ter noun [ Greek ... 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.

Barogram Bar"o·gram noun [ Greek ... weight + -gram .] (Meteor.) A tracing, usually made by the barograph, showing graphically the variations of atmospheric pressure for a given time.

Barograph Bar"o·graph noun [ Greek ba`ros weight + -graph .] (Meteor.) An instrument for recording automatically the variations of atmospheric pressure.

Baroko Ba·ro"ko (bȧ*rō"ko) noun [ 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.

Barology Ba·rol"o·gy noun [ Greek baros weight + -logy .] The science of weight or gravity.

Baromacrometer Bar`o·ma·crom"e·ter noun [ Greek baros weight + makro`s long + -meter .] (Medicine) An instrument for ascertaining the weight and length of a newborn infant.

Barometer Ba·rom"e·ter noun [ Greek baros weight + -meter : confer French 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.

» 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 Sympiesometer . Nichol.

Aneroid barometer . See Aneroid barometer , under Aneroid . -- 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. -- Mountain barometer , a portable mercurial barometer with tripod support, and long scale, for measuring heights. -- 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. -- Wheel barometer , a barometer with recurved tube, and a float, from which a cord passes over a pulley and moves an index.

Barometric Bar`o·met"ric (băr`o*mĕt"rĭk), Bar`o*met"ric*al (-mĕt"rĭ*k a l) adjective Pertaining to the barometer; made or indicated by a barometer; as, barometric changes; barometrical observations.

Barometrically Bar`o·met"ric·al·ly adverb By means of a barometer, or according to barometric observations.

Barometrograph Bar`o·met"ro·graph (-ro*grȧf) noun [ Greek baros weight + me`tron measure + -graph .] A form of barometer so constructed as to inscribe of itself upon paper a record of the variations of atmospheric pressure.

Barometry Ba·rom"e·try noun The art or process of making barometrical measurements.

Barometz Bar"o·metz noun [ Confer Russian baranets' clubmoss.] (Botany) 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 .

Baron Bar"on noun [ Middle English baron , barun , Old French baron , accus. of ber , French baron , probably from Old High German baro (not found) bearer, akin to English bear to support; confer O. Frisian bere , Late Latin baro , Italian barone , Spanish 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 . Confer Latin baro , simpleton. See Bear to support.]

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.

» "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.

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

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

Baronage Bar"on·age noun [ Middle English barnage , baronage , Old French barnage , French baronnage ; confer Late Latin baronagium .] 1. The whole body of barons or peers.

The baronage of the kingdom.
Bp. Burnet.

2. The dignity or rank of a baron.

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

Baroness Bar"on·ess noun A baron's wife; also, a lady who holds the baronial title in her own right; as, the Baroness Burdett-Coutts.

Baronet Bar"on·et noun [ 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.

» 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.

Baronetage Bar"on·et·age noun 1. State or rank of a baronet.

2. The collective body of baronets.

Baronetcy Bar"on·et·cy noun The rank or patent of a baronet.

Barong Ba·rong" noun [ Native name.] A kind of cutting weapon with a thick back and thin razorlike edge, used by the Moros of the Philippine Islands.

Baronial Ba·ro"ni·al adjective Pertaining to a baron or a barony. " Baronial tenure." Hallam.

Barony Bar"o·ny noun ; plural Baronies [ Old French baronie , French baronnie , Late Latin baronia . See Baron .] 1. The fee or domain of a baron; the lordship, dignity, or rank of a baron.

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.

Baroque Ba·roque" adjective [ F.; confer Italian barocco .] (Architecture) In bad taste; grotesque; odd.

Baroque Ba·roque" adjective Irregular in form; -- said esp. of a pearl.

Baroscope Bar"o·scope (băr"o*skōp) noun [ Greek baros weight + -scope : confer French 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.

Baroscopic, Baroscopical Bar`o·scop"ic, Bar`o·scop"ic·al adjective Pertaining to, or determined by, the baroscope.

Barothermograph Bar`o·ther"mo·graph noun [ Greek ... weight + thermograph .] An instrument for recording both pressure and temperature, as of the atmosphere.

Barouche Ba·rouche" noun [ German barutsche , Italian baroccio , biroccio , Late Latin barrotium , from Latin 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.

Barouchet Ba`rou·chet" noun A kind of light barouche.

Barpost Bar"post` noun A post sunk in the ground to receive the bars closing a passage into a field.

Barque Barque noun Same as 3d Bark , noun

Barracan Bar"ra·can noun [ French baracan , bouracan (cf. Pr. barracan , Italian baracane , Spanish barragan , Portuguese barregana , Late Latin barracanus ), from Arabic barrakān a kind of black gown, perhaps from Persian barak a garment made of camel's hair.] A thick, strong stuff, somewhat like camlet; -- still used for outer garments in the Levant.

Barrack Bar"rack noun [ French baraque , from Italian baracca (cf. Spanish barraca ), from Late Latin barra bar. See Bar , noun ]

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

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

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

Barrack Bar"rack transitive verb To supply with barracks; to establish in barracks; as, to barrack troops.

Barrack Bar"rack intransitive verb To live or lodge in barracks.

Barraclade Bar"ra·clade noun [ Dutch 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.

Barracoon Bar"ra·coon` noun [ Spanish or Portuguese barraca . See Barrack .] A slave warehouse, or an inclosure where slaves are quartered temporarily. Du Chaillu.

Barracuda Bar`ra·cu"da noun [ Native name.] Any of several voracious pikelike marine fishes allied to the gray mullets, constituting the genus Sphyræna and family Sphyrænidæ . The great barracuda ( S. 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. S. Argentea of the Pacific coast and S. sphyræna of Europe are smaller species, and are used as food.

Barracuda, Barracouta Bar`ra·cu"da, Bar`ra·cou"ta noun 1. (Zoology) A voracious, pikelike, marine fish, of the genus Sphyræna , sometimes used as food.

» That of Europe and our Atlantic coast is Sphyræna spet (or S. vulgaris ); a southern species is S. picuda ; the Californian is S. argentea .

2. (Zoology) A large edible fresh-water fish of Australia and New Zealand ( Thyrsites atun ).

Barrage Bar"rage noun [ French, from barrer to bar, from barre bar.] (Engineering) An artificial bar or obstruction placed in a river or watercourse to increase the depth of water; as, the barrages of the Nile.

Barramundi Bar`ra·mun"di noun [ Written also barramunda .] [ Native name.] (Zoology) (a) A remarkable Australian fresh-water ganoid fish of the genus Ceratodus. (b) An Australian river fish ( Osteoglossum Leichhardtii ).

Barranca Bar·ran"ca noun [ Spanish ] A ravine caused by heavy rains or a watercourse. [ Texas & N. Mex.]

Barras Bar"ras noun [ French] A resin, called also galipot .

Barrator Bar"ra·tor noun [ Middle English baratour , Old French barateor deceiver, from Old French barater , bareter , to deceive, cheat, barter. See Barter , intransitive verb ] One guilty of barratry.

Barratrous Bar"ra·trous adjective (Law) Tainted with, or constituting, barratry. -- Bar"ra*trous*ly , adverb Kent.

Barratry Bar"ra·try noun [ Confer French baraterie , Late Latin barataria . See Barrator , and confer Bartery .] 1. (Law) The practice of exciting and encouraging lawsuits and quarrels. [ Also spelt barretry .] Coke. Blackstone.

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.

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

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