definitions

barker

1
[ bahr-ker ]
/ ˈbɑr kər /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR barker ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

RELATED WORDS

raconteur, orator, debater, lecturer, spokeswoman, mouthpiece, speechmaker, braggart, announcer, conversationalist, windbag, spokesman, spokesperson, blowhard, bragger, gossip, commentator, gasbag, bigmouth

Nearby words

bark is worse than his bite, bark up the wrong tree, barkeep, barkeeper, barkentine, barker, barkhan, barkhausen, barkhausen effect, barking, barking and dagenham

Origin of barker

1
First recorded in 1350–1400, barker is from the Middle English word berker, berkar. See bark1, -er1

Definition for barker (2 of 2)

barker

2
[ bahr-ker ]
/ ˈbɑr kər /

noun

a person or thing that removes bark from trees.
a person or thing that prepares bark for tanning.

Origin of barker

2
1375–1425, earlier as surname; late Middle English. See bark2 (v.), -er1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for barker

British Dictionary definitions for barker (1 of 3)

barker

1
/ (ˈbɑːkə) /

noun

an animal or person that barks
a person who stands at a show, fair booth, etc, and loudly addresses passers-by to attract customers

British Dictionary definitions for barker (2 of 3)

barker

2
/ (ˈbɑːkə) /

noun

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

British Dictionary definitions for barker (3 of 3)

Barker

/ (ˈbɑːkə) /

noun

George (Granville). 1913–91, British poet: author of Calamiterror (1937) and The True Confession of George Barker (1950)
Howard . born 1946, British playwright: his plays include Claw (1975), The Castle (1985), A Hard Heart (1992), and 13 Objects (2003)
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)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for barker

barker

n.

"noisy fellow," late 15c., agent noun from bark (v.). Specific sense of "loud assistant in an auction, store, or show" is from 1690s.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper