barnstorm
[bahrn-stawrm]
- to conduct a campaign or speaking tour in rural areas by making brief stops in many small towns.
- Theater. to tour small towns to stage theatrical performances.
- (of a pilot) to give exhibitions of stunt flying, participate in airplane races, etc., in the course of touring country towns and rural areas.
- (of a professional athletic team) to tour an area playing exhibition games after the regular season.
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- to tour (various places) as a barnstormer.
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Origin of barnstorm
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
barnstorm
- to tour rural districts putting on shows, esp theatrical, athletic, or acrobatic shows
- mainly US and Canadian to tour rural districts making speeches in a political campaign
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Word Origin
C19: from barn 1 + storm (vb); from the performances often being in barns
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
Word Origin and History for barnstormer
barnstorm
v.
1815, in reference to a theatrical troupe's performances in upstate New York barns (usually featuring short action pieces to suit vulgar tastes); extended 1896 to electioneering, 1928 to itinerant airplane pilots who performed stunts at fairs and races. Related: Barnstormed; barnstorming.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper