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• barker
  barker

  noun

  an animal or person that barks.
• Barker
  Barker

  noun

  George ( Granville ). 1913–91, British poet: author of Calamiterror (1937) and The True Confession of George Barker (1950)

barker

¹ American  

[bahr-ker] / ˈbɑr kər /

noun

1. an animal or person that barks.

2. a person who stands before a theater, carnival sideshow, or the like, calling out its attractions to passers-by.

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barker ² American  

[bahr-ker] / ˈbɑr kər /

noun

1. a person or thing that removes bark from trees.

2. a person or thing that prepares bark for tanning.

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Barker ¹ British  

/ ˈbɑːkə /

noun

1. George ( Granville ). 1913–91, British poet: author of Calamiterror (1937) and The True Confession of George Barker (1950)

2. Howard . born 1946, British playwright: his plays include Claw (1975), The Castle (1985), A Hard Heart (1992), and 13 Objects (2003)

3. Ronnie , full name Ronald William George Barker . 1929–2005, British comedian: known esp for his partnership with Ronnie Corbett (born 1930) in the TV series The Two Ronnies (1971–85)

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barker ² British  

/ ˈbɑːkə /

noun

1. an animal or person that barks

2. a person who stands at a show, fair booth, etc, and loudly addresses passers-by to attract customers

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barker ³ British  

/ ˈbɑːkə /

noun

1. a person or machine that removes bark from trees or logs or prepares it for tanning

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Etymology

Origin of barker¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, barker is from the Middle English word berker, berkar. See bark ¹, -er ¹

Origin of barker²

1375–1425, earlier as surname; late Middle English. See bark ² (v.), -er ¹

Explanation

A barker is a person whose job involves advertising a show or a circus, encouraging passing pedestrians to buy a ticket. A traveling carnival might employ a barker to describe its attractions. A barker's job includes detailing the highlights of the show or fair he's trying to sell. An old-fashioned sideshow carnival barker might call to passers-by, describing the bearded lady or human pincushion inside. In the 15th century, a barker was a "noisy fellow," which became a "loud assistant or salesman" by the late 17th century. It comes from bark, from its Old English root beorcan, "to bark."

Example Sentences

“You’d be hard-pressed to find many filmmakers that have had the run of quality that he has,” says Michael Barker, co-president and co-founder of Sony Pictures Classics, Almodóvar’s long-standing North American distribution partner.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

As Bill Barker, who portrayed Jefferson for 26 years before Smith, put it, interpretive misfires aren’t failures so much as proof of concept—“reminders that Colonial Williamsburg,” like the nation itself, “is a work in progress.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Volunteer Richard Barker, 82, who runs centre's the Creative Art for Wellness session, lost his wife 13 years ago and after his children moved away for work he said the facility was a "lifeline".

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

The fossils were examined by paleontologists from Flinders University and Canterbury Museum, working alongside volcanologists Joel Baker from the University of Auckland and Simon Barker of Victoria University of Wellington.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

Reverend Barker, who enjoyed Granddaddy’s company, seemed to take it in stride.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

Related Words

• debater
• orator
• raconteur