barrack

¹ American  

[bar-uhk] / ˈbær ək /

noun

1. a building or group of buildings for lodging soldiers, especially in garrison.

2. any large, plain building in which many people are lodged.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to lodge in barracks.

barrack ² American  

[bar-uhk] / ˈbær ək /

verb (used without object)

1. to shout boisterously for or against a player or team; root or jeer.

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verb (used with object)

1. to shout for or against.

barrack ¹ British  

/ ˈbærək /

verb

1. to criticize loudly or shout against (a player, team, speaker, etc); jeer

2. to shout support (for)

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barrack ² British  

/ ˈbærək /

verb

1. to house (people, esp soldiers) in barracks

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Other Word Forms

• barracker noun
• barracking noun

Etymology

Origin of barrack¹

1680–90; < French baraque, Middle French < Catalan barraca hut, of obscure origin

Origin of barrack²

1885–90; originally Australian English, perhaps < N Ireland dialect barrack to brag

Example Sentences

An outpost for 30 soldiers with a couple of sentry points and barracks will burn through about 13 gallons of fuel a day.

From The Wall Street Journal

An army barracks in Kent which has been used to house asylum seekers has closed, according to the Home Office.

From BBC

“We would talk about it in the barracks, we would talk about it in the gym, we would talk about it at the chow hall,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Earlier, participants, including families with children, waved banners and chanted, walking from the former barracks to the town centre.

From BBC

The West African bloc Ecowas took a similar action, while urging the military to return to the barracks.

From BBC

Related Words

• camp
• garrison
• hut