barley

¹ American  

[bahr-lee] / ˈbɑr li /

noun

1. a widely distributed cereal plant belonging to the genus Hordeum, of the grass family, having awned flowers that grow in tightly bunched spikes, with three small additional spikes at each node.

2. the grain of this plant, used as food and in making beer, ale, and whiskey.

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barley ² American  

[bahr-lee] / ˈbɑr li /

noun

Scot. and North England.

plural

barleys

1. a truce or quarter, especially in children's games; parley.

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barley ¹ British  

/ ˈbɑːlɪ /

noun

1. any of various erect annual temperate grasses of the genus Hordeum , esp H. vulgare , that have short leaves and dense bristly flower spikes and are widely cultivated for grain and forage

2. the grain of any of these grasses, used in making beer and whisky and for soups, puddings, etc See also pearl barley

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barley ² British  

/ ˈbɑːlɪ /

1. dialect a cry for truce or respite from the rules of a game

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Etymology

Origin of barley¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English bærlīc (adj.), equivalent to bær- (variant of bere barley; akin to Old Norse barr barley, Gothic barizeins made of barley, Serbo-Croatian brȁšno flour, Latin far emmer; all < European Indo-European *bHaer- spike, prickle, perhaps akin to beard ) + -līc -ly

Origin of barley²

1805–15; probably to be identified with Scots barley, burley, birlie local customary law (Compare birleyman arbiter, birleycourt neighborhood court), variant of birlaw, Medieval Latin birlawe, birelegia, birelag < Old Norse *býjarlagu, equivalent to býjar, genitive singular of býr town ( bower ¹, byre ) + *lagu law ¹; compare bylaw ( def. )

Example Sentences

Under the deal, eight years in the making, almost all EU tariffs will be lifted on Australian agricultural products such as wine, fruit and vegetables, olive oil, seafood, most dairy products and wheat and barley.

From BBC

Farmers growing arable crops such as wheat and barley could be better protected from the initial rise in fertiliser prices, as they generally buy in advance.

From BBC

Williamson's farm, on which he grows a variety of crops including wheat, barley, and oats, has been "fortunate," as like many arable farms, they bought most of the fertiliser needed for this season last year.

From BBC

A barley risotto studded with dried autumn mushrooms follows, Finland’s breadbasket turned into comfort.

From Salon

Coeliac disease is caused by a reaction of the immune system to gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

From BBC

Related Words

• corn
• fodder
• forage
• grain
• hay
• meal