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  • barlow
    barlow
    noun
    a large pocketknife with one blade.
  • Barlow
    Barlow
    noun
    Joel, 1754–1812, U.S. poet and diplomat.

barlow

1 American  
[bahr-loh] / ˈbɑr loʊ /

noun

South Midland and Southern U.S.
  1. a large pocketknife with one blade.


Barlow 2 American  
[bahr-loh] / ˈbɑr loʊ /

noun

  1. Joel, 1754–1812, U.S. poet and diplomat.


Etymology

Origin of barlow

1770–80, after a family of Sheffield cutlers named Barlow, who are alleged to have produced a knife of this type before 1700

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

There repose a barlow knife and a buck knife for whittling when somebody makes him wait and a hard Arkansas whetstone for sharpening when somebody makes him wait longer.

From Time Magazine Archive

I believe I'll go over and offer them my old barlow knife.

From The Adventures of Uncle Jeremiah and Family at the Great Fair Their Observations and Triumphs by C. M. (Charles McClellan) Stevens

Every girl got a ribbon, every boy a barlow knife, and every man a shin plaster.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves South Carolina Narratives, Part 1 by Work Projects Administration

Ronnie’s team includes Lenny Ouyang, who runs underground games in New York City; Nikki Barlow, whose stunning looks camouflage her gambling savvy; and Al Cardano, a “wannabe comic” and math wizard.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 9, 2026

"It means Lamine Yamal is working with less space, more defenders doubling up on him, and less dynamism in Spain's game as a whole," says Spanish football journalist Ruairidh Barlow.

From BBC Jul. 14, 2026

Indiana officials plan to announce this week the state is pausing new enrollments of autism-therapy providers with its Medicaid program, said Marcus Barlow, a senior official at the state agency overseeing Medicaid.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 2, 2026

He created a "memorable character in David Barlow and will forever be remembered as one of the original cast members", they added.

From BBC May 14, 2026

His stagecoach was robbed by the outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow.

From "Holes" by Louis Sachar

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