barrack

¹

[bar-uhk]

noun

1. a building or group of buildings for lodging soldiers, especially in garrison.

2. any large, plain building in which many people are lodged.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to lodge in barracks.

barrack

²

[bar-uhk]

verb (used without object)

1. to shout boisterously for or against a player or team; root or jeer.

verb (used with object)

1. to shout for or against.

barrack

¹

/ ˈbærək /

verb

1. to criticize loudly or shout against (a player, team, speaker, etc); jeer

2. to shout support (for)

barrack

²

/ ˈbærək /

verb

1. to house (people, esp soldiers) in barracks

Other Word Forms

• barracker noun
• barracking noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of barrack¹

1680–90; < French baraque, Middle French < Catalan barraca hut, of obscure origin

Origin of barrack²

1885–90; originally Australian English, perhaps < N Ireland dialect barrack to brag

Word History and Origins

Origin of barrack¹

C19: from northern Irish: to boast

Example Sentences

The fortresses around the turquoise waters of Singapore’s only sand beaches are now abandoned, but a string of British officer’s barracks in the island’s lush interior have been put to new use.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Many have taken part in weapons training held at military barracks and in neighborhoods.

Read more on Barron's

And high-ranking officers, American mercenaries and enlisted personnel in the army have launched everything from a seaborne invasion to barracks uprisings.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Did the need for beds become greater, or did the rhetoric around using barracks for people who claim to be fleeing persecution become more acceptable, as Reform edged up in the opinion polls?

Read more on BBC

Some barracks have been completed or are nearly done.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• camp 
• garrison 
• hut