Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BA-ROM'E-TER, n. [Gr. βαρος, weight, and μετρον, measure.]

An instrument for measuring the weight or pressure of the atmosphere, consisting of a glass tube, hermetically sealed at one end, filled with quicksilver, well defecated and purged of air, and inverted in a basin of quicksilver. A column of quicksilver is then supported in the tube, of equal weight with the incumbent atmosphere. This instrument was invented by Torricelli, of Florence, in 1643. Its uses are to indicate changes of weather, and to determine the altitude of mountains, by the falling and rising of the mercury. For this purpose, the tube is fixed to a graduated scale, so that the smallest variation in the column is visible. – Encyc. Johnson.

BAR-O-MET'RIC-AL, n.

Pertaining or relating to the barometer; made by a barometer; as, barometrical experiments.

BAR-O-MET'RIC-AL-LY, adv.

By means of a barometer. – Pinkerton.

BAR'ON, n. [Fr. baron; Sp. baron or varon; It. barone; Sans. bareru, bharta, a husband. This word, in the middle ages, was written bar, ber, var, baro, paro, viro, virro, viron. It is the vir of the Latins; Sax. wer; Ir. fir, fear; W. gwr, for guir, gevir. See Spelman's Glossary, and Hirt. Pansa de Bell. Alex. 42: Hickes's Sax. Grammar, 113, 146. The Sax. wer, L. vir, is doubtless the Shemitic נבר, a man, so named from strength.]

1. In Great Britain, a title or degree of nobility; a lord; a peer; one who holds the rank of nobility next below that of a viscount, and above that of a knight or baronet. Originally, the barons, being the feudatories of princes, were the proprietors of land held by honorable service. Hence, in ancient records, the word barons comprehends all the nobility. All such in England, had, in early times, a right to sit in parliament. As a baron was the proprietor of a manor, and each manor had its court-baron; hence the barons claimed, and to this day enjoy, the right of judging in the last resort; a right pertaining to the house of lords, or peers, as the representatives of the ancient barons, land-holders, manor-holders. Anciently, barons were greater, or such as held their lands of the king in capite; or lesser, such as held their lands of the greater barons by military service capite. The title of baron is no longer attached to the possession of a manor, but given by the king's letters patent, or writ of summons to parliament; that is, the dignity is personal, not territorial. The radical word, vir, fir, a man, is Celtic, as well as Teutonic; but the word baron was not known in the British Isles, till introduced from the continent under the Norman princes. – Spelman. Blackstone. Encyc. Cowel.
2. Baron is a title of certain officers; as, barons of the exchequer, who are the four judges who try cases between the king and his subjects relating to the revenue. Barons of the Cinque Ports are members of the House of Commons, elected by the seven Cinque Ports, two for each port. These ports are Dover, Sandwich, Romney, Hastings, Hythe, Winchelsea, and Rye. – Blackstone.
3. In law, a husband; as, baron and feme, husband and wife.

BAR'ON-AGE, n.

1. The whole body of barons or peers.
2. The dignity of a baron.
3. The land which gives title to a baron. – Johnson.

BAR'ON-ESS, n.

A baron's wife or lady. – Johnson.

BAR'ON-ET, n. [Fr. dimin. of baron.]

A dignity or degree of honor, next below a baron, and above a knight; having precedency of all knights except those of the garter, and being the only knighthood that is hereditary. The order was founded by James I. in 1611, and is given by patent. – Johnson. Blackstone.

BAR'ON-ET-CY, n.

The rank or title of a baronet. – Parriana.

BA-RO'NI-AL, a.

Pertaining to a baron. – Encyc.

BAR'ON-Y, n.

The lordship, honor, or fee of a baron, whether spiritual or temporal. This lordship is held in chief of the king, and gives title to the possessor, or baron. – Johnson. Encyc.

BAR'O-SCOPE, n. [Gr. βαρος, weight, and σκοπεω, to view.]

An instrument to show the weight of the atmosphere; superseded by the Barometer.

BAR-O-SCOP'IC, a.

Pertaining to or determined by the baroscope.

BAR-O-SEL'E-NITE, n. [Gr. βαρος, weight, or βαρυς, heavy, and selenite.]

A mineral; sulphate of baryta; heavy spar. – Kirwan. Cleaveland.

BA-ROUCHE', n. [baroosh'.]

A four wheel carriage, with a falling top, with seats as in a coach.

BAR'RA, n.

In Portugal and Spain, a long measure for cloths. In Valencia, 13 barras make 12 6/7 yards English; in Castile, 7 are equal to 6 4/7 yards; in Arragon, 3 make 2 4/7 yards. – Encyc.

BAR-RA-CA'DA, n.

A fish about fifteen inches in length, of a dusky color on the back, and a white belly, with small black spots. – Dict. of Nat. Hist.

BAR'RA-CAN, n. [It. baracane; Sp. barragan; Fr. bouracan.]

A thick, strong stuff, something like camelet; used for clokes, surtouts, and other outer garments.

BAR'RACK, n. [Sp. barraca; Fr. baraque. It seems to be formed like Sax. parruc, a park, an inclosure.]

A hut or house for soldiers, especially in garrison. In Spain, a hut or cabin for fishermen.

BAR'RACK-MAS-TER, n.

The officer who superintends the barracks of soldiers. – Swift.

BAR'RA-COON, n.

In Africa, a fort.

BAR-RA-CU'DA, n.

A species of fish of the Pike kind, found in the seas about the Bahamas and West Indies, of ten feet in length. The color is deep brown, and the fish is very voracious. The flesh is disagreeable, and sometimes poisonous. – Catesby. Pennant.

BAR'RA-TOR, n. [Old Fr. barat, strife, deceit; Cimbric, baratton; Ice. and Scandinavian, baratta, contest; It. baratta, strife, quarrel; barattare, to barter, to cheat; Sp. barato, fraud, deceit; baratar, to barter, to deceive. The radical sense is, to turn, wind, and twist, whence to strive; L. verto; Eng. barter. See Barter.]

1. One who frequently excites suits at law; a common mover and maintainer of suits and controversies; an encourager of litigation. – Coke. Blackstone.
2. The master of a ship who commits any fraud, in the management of the ship, or in relation to his duties as master, by which the owner or insurers are injured.

BAR'RA-TROUS, a.

Tainted with barratry.

BAR'RA-TROUS-LY, adv.

In a barratrous manner. – Kent.

BAR'RA-TRY, n.

1. The practice of exciting and encouraging lawsuits and quarrels. – Coke. Blackstone.
2. In commerce, any species of cheating or fraud, in a shipmaster, by which the owners or insurers are injured; as, by running away with the ship, sinking or deserting her, by willful deviation, or by embezzling the cargo. – Park.