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  • barlow
    barlow
    noun
    a large pocketknife with one blade.
  • Barlow
    Barlow
    noun
    Joel, 1754–1812, U.S. poet and diplomat.

barlow

1 American  
[bahr-loh] / ˈbɑr loʊ /

noun

South Midland and Southern U.S.
  1. a large pocketknife with one blade.


Barlow 2 American  
[bahr-loh] / ˈbɑr loʊ /

noun

  1. Joel, 1754–1812, U.S. poet and diplomat.


Etymology

Origin of barlow

1770–80, after a family of Sheffield cutlers named Barlow, who are alleged to have produced a knife of this type before 1700


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:

There repose a barlow knife and a buck knife for whittling when somebody makes him wait and a hard Arkansas whetstone for sharpening when somebody makes him wait longer.

From Time Magazine Archive

Every girl got a ribbon, every boy a barlow knife, and every man a shin plaster.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves South Carolina Narratives, Part 1 by Work Projects Administration

I believe I'll go over and offer them my old barlow knife.

From The Adventures of Uncle Jeremiah and Family at the Great Fair Their Observations and Triumphs by C. M. (Charles McClellan) Stevens

Barlow added that it gave "genuine hope" in the battle to reverse biodiversity decline and ensure future generations across Scotland, England and Wales could experience the "incredible sense of awe" when seeing a golden eagle.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Dr Cat Barlow said the fledging of five young birds was a "hugely significant milestone"

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Credit goes to Ms. Niebel and Mr. Barlow for crafting an exhibition that neither eschews the antique in favor of the fleetingly fashionable nor slights the popular for the esoteric.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

"It means Lamine Yamal is working with less space, more defenders doubling up on him, and less dynamism in Spain's game as a whole," says Spanish football journalist Ruairidh Barlow.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

"I believe I just did," said Katherine Barlow.

From "Holes" by Louis Sachar

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