barleycorn

¹

[ bahr-lee-kawrn ]

noun

1. barley ¹( def 1 ).
2. a grain of barley.
3. a unit of length equal to 1/3 inch (8.5 millimeters).
4. Also barley corn. a type of basket weave that produces an allover geometric pattern.

Barleycorn

²

[ bahr-lee-kawrn ]

noun

1. John. John Barleycorn.

barleycorn

/ ˈbɑːlɪˌkɔːn /

noun

1. a grain of barley, or barley itself
2. an obsolete unit of length equal to one third of an inch

Word History and Origins

Origin of barleycorn¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; barley ¹, corn ¹

Example Sentences

In John Barleycorn, Heinold and his bar are referenced a whooping 17 times.

From The Daily Beast

I guess they have got a little too much John Barleycorn on board!

From Project Gutenberg

A man cannot put up a good fight and entertain John Barleycorn at the same time.

From Project Gutenberg

This big, brawny world rover, who has been acquainted with alcohol from boyhood, comes out boldly against John Barleycorn.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, Bill died six years ago from over-assiduous cultivation of John Barleycorn, and they hushed it up.

From Project Gutenberg

Another made the mistake of supposing that he could pin John Barleycorn's shoulders to the mat.

From Project Gutenberg