barleycorn

[ bahr-lee-kawrn ]

/ ˈbɑr liˌkɔrn /

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noun

barley¹ (def. 1).

a grain of barley.

a unit of length equal to 1/3 inch (8.5 millimeters).

Also barley corn . a type of basket weave that produces an allover geometric pattern.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of barleycorn

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; see origin at barley¹, corn¹

Words nearby barleycorn

bar-le-duc, Barletta, barley, barley-bree, barley coal, barleycorn, barley sack, barley sandwich, barley stripe, barley sugar, barley water

Other definitions for barleycorn (2 of 2)

Barleycorn

[ bahr-lee-kawrn ]

/ ˈbɑr liˌkɔrn /

noun

John. John Barleycorn.

How to use barleycorn in a sentence

In John Barleycorn, Heinold and his bar are referenced a whooping 17 times.
The Bars That Made America Great|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I guess they have got a little too much John Barleycorn on board!
The Call of the Beaver Patrol|V. T. Sherman
A man cannot put up a good fight and entertain John Barleycorn at the same time.
The Boy Chums in the Florida Jungle|Wilmer M. Ely
This big, brawny world rover, who has been acquainted with alcohol from boyhood, comes out boldly against John Barleycorn.
The Range Boss|Charles Alden Seltzer

Well, Bill died six years ago from over-assiduous cultivation of John Barleycorn, and they hushed it up.
The Trail of '98|Robert W. Service
Another made the mistake of supposing that he could pin John Barleycorn's shoulders to the mat.
If You Don't Write Fiction|Charles Phelps Cushing

British Dictionary definitions for barleycorn

barleycorn

/ (ˈbɑːlɪˌkɔːn) /

noun

a grain of barley, or barley itself

an obsolete unit of length equal to one third of an inch

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