barber pole

American  

Or barber's pole

noun

1. a pole with red and white spiral stripes symbolizing the barber's former sideline of surgery.

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Etymology

Origin of barber pole

First recorded in 1675–85

Example Sentences

Across the swirl of a barber pole, in ornate cursive, it reads: “The Working Class.”

From New York Times • Feb. 11, 2024

“These guys need to be able to let loose and express themselves and their emotions,” said Matt, a mentor who cuts hair at a wing that includes two seats and a barber pole.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 18, 2023

“That’s how I size up a town, and, a lot of times, I won’t see a barber pole in the town.”

From Washington Times • Jan. 30, 2017

I stopped to look at my new favorite tree: a sycamore on the northeast corner of the park, its gray-white bark smooth and striped like a barber pole.

From Washington Post • Jun. 12, 2016

A building that was once a barbershop was burned to the ground—the only thing left was the barber pole.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English