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barley water

American  

noun

  1. a decoction of barley, used especially in the treatment of diarrhea in infants.


barley water British  

noun

  1. a drink made from an infusion of barley, usually flavoured with lemon or orange

"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

Etymology

Origin of barley water

First recorded in 1275–1325

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:

Also worth nothing: Certain health-conscious individuals are once again drinking barley water for dietary reasons.

From Seattle Times Jun. 15, 2022

However, even they do better than older women such as Judy Murray, who end up portrayed as a modern-day version of Lady Macbeth, only this time with added Robinson's barley water.

From The Guardian Jul. 13, 2013

The custom is to feed oysters with barley water in a dish.

From Time Magazine Archive

Lunch is usually nothing more than tea and bread and butter; dinner is often boiled mutton and turnips, washed down with barley water.

From Time Magazine Archive

Oatmeal and barley water was made into a thin gruel and given to the men as required. 

From Railway Adventures and Anecdotes extending over more than fifty years by Various

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