Definition of Barley

1. Noun. A grain of barley.

Exact synonyms: Barleycorn
Generic synonyms: Cereal, Food Grain, Grain
Specialized synonyms: Pearl Barley
Group relationships: Common Barley, Hordeum Vulgare

2. Noun. Cultivated since prehistoric times; grown for forage and grain.

Definition of Barley

1. n. A valuable grain, of the family of grasses, genus Hordeum, used for food, and for making malt, from which are prepared beer, ale, and whisky.

Definition of Barley

1. Noun. A strong cereal of the genus ''Hordeum'', or its grains, often used as food or to make malted drinks. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Barley

1. a cereal grass [n -LEYS]

Medical Definition of Barley

1. A valuable grain, of the family of grasses, genus Hordeum, used for food, and for making malt, from which are prepared beer, ale, and whisky. Barley bird, the siskin. Barley sugar, sugar boiled till it is brittle (formerly with a decoction of barley) and candied. Barley water, a decoction of barley, used in medicine, as a nutritive and demulcent. Origin: OE. Barli, barlich, AS. Baerlic; bere barley + lic (which is prob. The same as E. Like, adj, or perh. A form of AS. Leac leek). AS. Bere is akin to Icel, barr barley, Goth. Barizeins made of barley, L. Far spelt; cf. W. Barlys barley, bara bread. 92. Cf. Farina, 6th Bear. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Barley

barking spiders
barking up the wrong tree
barkingly
barkitecture
barkled
barkless
barklike
barkometer
barkometers
barks
barky
barleduc
barleducs
barless
barley (current term)
barley-sugar
barley-water
barley candy
barley sugar
barley water
barleycorn
barleycorns
barleylike
barleymeal
barleys
barlike
barlow

Literary usage of Barley

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Bulletin by North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station (Fargo) (1899)
"barley—SOWING AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS. The variety ot seed used, and the dale and manner of sowing, were the same as those given in the trial of different ..."

2. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1888)
"Experiments similar to those on wheat and barley have been made on oats, root crops, leguminous and grass crops, all showing the gradual decline in produce ..."

3. Notes and Queries by Martim de Albuquerque (1858)
"In all country families, some three or four generations back, before the invention of barley-mills, they possessed a large mortar or “knockin-stane,” in ..."

4. A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, Obsolete Phrases, Proverbs by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps (1889)
"barley. To bespeak ; to claim. It is an exclamation frequently used by children ... A particular kind of barley, mostly cultivated in the fenny districts of ..."

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