barr

See also: Barr, Bärr, barr-, bàrr, and bárr

English

Etymology 1

From French barrir (“to trumpet; to make the sound of an elephant”), from Old French barrire, from Late Latin barriō, from Latin barrus (“elephant”).

Verb

barr (third-person singular simple present barrs, present participle barring, simple past and past participle barred)

1. (obsolete) To make the sound of an elephant.
   • 1737, François Rabelais, translated by Thomas Urquhart, The Complete Works of Doctor François Rabelais:

     He gave us also the example of the Philosopher, who, when he thought most seriously to have withdrawn himself unto a solitary Privacy, far from the rufling Clutterments of the tumultuous and confused World, the better to improve his Theory, to contrive, comment, and ratiocinate, was, notwithstanding his uttermost Endeavours to free himself from all untowards Noises, surrounded and environ'd about so with the barking of Curs, howling of Wolves, neighing of Horses, bleating of Sheep, barring of Elephants, hissing of Serpents, braying of Asses, chirping of Grasshoppers, cooing of Turtles […]

Etymology 2

See bar.

Noun

barr (countable and uncountable, plural barrs)

1. Obsolete spelling of bar.

Verb

barr (third-person singular simple present barrs, present participle barring, simple past and past participle barred)

1. Obsolete spelling of bar.

Cornish

Pronunciation

• (Revived Middle Cornish) IPA^(key): /ˈbar/

Etymology 1

From Middle Cornish bar, from Proto-Brythonic *barr, from Proto-Celtic *barros, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰers-. Cognate with Welsh bar.

Noun

barr m (plural barrow)

1. summit

Derived terms

• barrhe (“to exalt”)

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English bar.

Noun

barr m (plural barrys)

1. bar, pub

Mutation

Mutation of barr

radical	soft	aspirate	hard	mixed
barr	varr	unchanged	parr	farr, varr*

* after 'th
Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Cornish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

References

• “barr” in Cornish Dictionary / Gerlyver Kernewek, Akademi Kernewek.

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse barr, from Proto-Germanic *baraz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈparː]
• Rhymes: -arː

Noun

barr n (genitive singular barrs, no plural)

1. pine needles

Declension

Declension of barr (sg-only neuter)

	singular
	indefinite	definite
nominative	barr	barrið
accusative	barr	barrið
dative	barri	barrinu
genitive	barrs	barrsins

Derived terms

• barrfinka (“siskin”)
• barrskógur
• barrspæta (“great spotted woodpecker”)
• barrtré (“conifer”)
• barrviður

Irish

Alternative forms

• bárr (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bˠɑːɾˠ/, /bˠaːɾˠ/

Etymology 1

From Old Irish barr (“top”), from Proto-Celtic *barros (compare Middle Welsh barr), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰers-.

Noun

barr m (genitive singular bairr or barr, nominative plural barra)

1. tip, head, point
2. top; summit
3. surface
4. (agriculture) crop, yield
5. crest (of wavelength)

Declension

Declension of barr (first declension)

bare forms singular plural nominative barr barra vocative a bhairr a bharra genitive bairr barr dative barr barra forms with the definite article singular plural nominative an barr na barra genitive an bhairr na mbarr dative leis an mbarr don bharr leis na barra

Alternative declension

Declension of barr (fourth declension)

bare forms singular plural nominative barr barra vocative a bharr a bharra genitive barr barra dative barr barra forms with the definite article singular plural nominative an barr na barra genitive an bharr na mbarra dative leis an mbarr don bharr leis na barra

Derived terms

• ar barr do ghoib (“on the tip of one’s tongue”)
• ar barr do theanga
• ar bharr (“on top of; completely”)
• bain barr de (“vie with”)
• barr ar (“in excess of”)
• barr bua (“supremacy, victory”)
• barr cátha (“oat-husk tea”)
• barr láin
• barr margaidh (“cash crop”)
• barr taoide (“high tide”)
• barr- (“topped”)
• barraicín- (“tiptoe”)
• barróg
• barrúil
• beir barr (“surpass, overcome”)
• bun agus barr (“the whole essence”)
• bun barr (“completely”)
• cé dhá bharr (“why?”)
• dá bharr (“gained”)
• dá bharr sin (“consequently”)
• de bharr (“because of”)
• de bharr ar (“in addition to; in preference to”)
• de bharr go (“because”)
• dul i mbarr (“deprive”)
• i mbarr d'anama (“with all one’s strength”)
• i mbarr do chéille (“out of one’s senses”)
• ó bhun go barr (“completely, from top to bottom”)
• príomhbharr (“main crop”)
• tabhair ar barr (“bring up, mention”)
• tabhair barr (“surpass, excel”)
• thar barr (“excellent, exceedingly”)
• thar barr amach (“outright, completely”)
• uchtbharr (“parapet”)

Related terms

• cafarr (“helmet, headpiece; kerchief”)

Verb

barr (present analytic barrann, future analytic barrfaidh, verbal noun barradh, past participle barrtha)

1. (transitive) to top

Conjugation

Conjugation of barr (first conjugation – A)

indicative	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
present	barraim	barrann tú; barrair†	barrann sé, sí	barraimid; barrann muid	barrann sibh	barrann siad; barraid†	a bharrann; a bharras	barrtar
past	bharr mé; bharras	bharr tú; bharrais	bharr sé, sí	bharramar; bharr muid	bharr sibh; bharrabhair	bharr siad; bharradar	a bharr	barradh
past habitual	bharrainn / barrainn‡	bharrtá / barrtá‡	bharradh sé, sí / barradh sé, sí‡	bharraimis; bharradh muid / barraimis‡; barradh muid‡	bharradh sibh / barradh sibh‡	bharraidís; bharradh siad / barraidís‡; barradh siad‡	a bharradh	bharrtaí / barrtaí‡
	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
future	barrfaidh mé; barrfad	barrfaidh tú; barrfair†	barrfaidh sé, sí	barrfaimid; barrfaidh muid	barrfaidh sibh	barrfaidh siad; barrfaid†	a bharrfaidh; a bharrfas	barrfar
conditional	bharrfainn / barrfainn‡	bharrfá / barrfá‡	bharrfadh sé, sí / barrfadh sé, sí‡	bharrfaimis; bharrfadh muid / barrfaimis‡; barrfadh muid‡	bharrfadh sibh / barrfadh sibh‡	bharrfaidís; bharrfadh siad / barrfaidís‡; barrfadh siad‡	a bharrfadh	bharrfaí / barrfaí‡
subjunctive	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
present	go mbarra mé; go mbarrad†	go mbarra tú; go mbarrair†	go mbarra sé, sí	go mbarraimid; go mbarra muid	go mbarra sibh	go mbarra siad; go mbarraid†	—	go mbarrtar
past	dá mbarrainn	dá mbarrtá	dá mbarradh sé, sí	dá mbarraimis; dá mbarradh muid	dá mbarradh sibh	dá mbarraidís; dá mbarradh siad	—	dá mbarrtaí
imperative	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
—	barraim	barr	barradh sé, sí	barraimis	barraigí; barraidh†	barraidís	—	barrtar
past participle	barrtha
verbal noun	barradh

^† archaic or dialect form
^‡ dependent form

Etymology 2

From Old French barre, barrer. Compare English bar.

Noun

barr m (genitive singular bairr)

1. bar, hindrance

Declension

Declension of barr (first declension, no plural)

bare forms singular nominative barr vocative a bhairr genitive bairr dative barr forms with the definite article singular nominative an barr genitive an bhairr dative leis an mbarr don bharr

Verb

barr (present analytic barrann, future analytic barrfaidh, verbal noun barradh, past participle barrtha)

1. (transitive) to bar, hinder

Conjugation

Conjugation of barr (first conjugation – A)

indicative	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
present	barraim	barrann tú; barrair†	barrann sé, sí	barraimid; barrann muid	barrann sibh	barrann siad; barraid†	a bharrann; a bharras	barrtar
past	bharr mé; bharras	bharr tú; bharrais	bharr sé, sí	bharramar; bharr muid	bharr sibh; bharrabhair	bharr siad; bharradar	a bharr	barradh
past habitual	bharrainn / barrainn‡	bharrtá / barrtá‡	bharradh sé, sí / barradh sé, sí‡	bharraimis; bharradh muid / barraimis‡; barradh muid‡	bharradh sibh / barradh sibh‡	bharraidís; bharradh siad / barraidís‡; barradh siad‡	a bharradh	bharrtaí / barrtaí‡
	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
future	barrfaidh mé; barrfad	barrfaidh tú; barrfair†	barrfaidh sé, sí	barrfaimid; barrfaidh muid	barrfaidh sibh	barrfaidh siad; barrfaid†	a bharrfaidh; a bharrfas	barrfar
conditional	bharrfainn / barrfainn‡	bharrfá / barrfá‡	bharrfadh sé, sí / barrfadh sé, sí‡	bharrfaimis; bharrfadh muid / barrfaimis‡; barrfadh muid‡	bharrfadh sibh / barrfadh sibh‡	bharrfaidís; bharrfadh siad / barrfaidís‡; barrfadh siad‡	a bharrfadh	bharrfaí / barrfaí‡
subjunctive	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
present	go mbarra mé; go mbarrad†	go mbarra tú; go mbarrair†	go mbarra sé, sí	go mbarraimid; go mbarra muid	go mbarra sibh	go mbarra siad; go mbarraid†	—	go mbarrtar
past	dá mbarrainn	dá mbarrtá	dá mbarradh sé, sí	dá mbarraimis; dá mbarradh muid	dá mbarradh sibh	dá mbarraidís; dá mbarradh siad	—	dá mbarrtaí
imperative	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
—	barraim	barr	barradh sé, sí	barraimis	barraigí; barraidh†	barraidís	—	barrtar
past participle	barrtha
verbal noun	barradh

^† archaic or dialect form
^‡ dependent form

Mutation

Mutated forms of barr

radical	lenition	eclipsis
barr	bharr	mbarr

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Further reading

• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1927), “bárr”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla [Irish and English Dictionary], 2nd edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 80; reprinted with additions 1996, →ISBN
• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “barr”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla [Irish–English Dictionary], Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959), “barr”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
• “barr”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013–2026

Maltese

Root
b-r-r
3 terms

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /barr/
• Rhymes: -arr

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Semitic *barr-

Arabic بَرّ (barr)

Maltese barr

Inherited from Arabic بَرّ (barr).

Noun

barr m

1. wilderness

Etymology 2

Onomatopoeic.

Verb

barr (imperfect jborr)

1. to coo (make a coo sound)

Conjugation

Conjugation of barr (Form I)

positive forms
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
perfect	m	barrejt	barrejt	barr	barrejna	barrejtu	barrew
	f			barret
imperfect	m	nborr	tborr	jborr	nborru	tborru	jborru
	f			tborr
imperative			borr			borru
negative forms
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
perfect	m	barrejtx	barrejtx	barrx	barrejniex	barrejtux	barrewx
	f			barritx
imperfect	m	nborrx	tborrx	jborrx	nborrux	tborrux	jborrux
	f			tborrx
imperative			tborrx			tborrux

Middle English

Noun

barr

1. alternative form of barre

Middle Welsh

Etymology

From Proto-Brythonic *barr, from Proto-Celtic *barros (compare Irish barr), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰers-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bar/

Noun

barr m (plural barriau)

1. top
2. summit, crest

Descendants

• Welsh: bar

Mutation

Mutated forms of barr

radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
barr	uarr / varr	marr	unchanged

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in Middle Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Old Irish

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *barros (compare Middle Welsh barr), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰers-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbar/

Noun

barr m (genitive bairr)

1. tip
2. top

Declension

Masculine o-stem

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	barr	barrL	bairrL
vocative	bairr	barrL	barruH
accusative	barrN	barrL	barruH
genitive	bairrL	barr	barrN
dative	barrL	barraib	barraib

Initial mutations of a following adjective:

• ^H = triggers aspiration
• ^L = triggers lenition
• ^N = triggers nasalization

Derived terms

• cathbarr (“battle helmet”)

Descendants

• Irish: barr
• Manx: baar
• Scottish Gaelic: bàrr

Mutation

Mutation of barr

radical	lenition	nasalization
barr	barr pronounced with /β-/	mbarr

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in Old Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Further reading

• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “1 barr”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

Old Norse

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *baraz.

Noun

barr n

1. acicular leaves, needles (of the fir or pine)
2. barley

Derived terms

• barraxlaðr (“high-shouldered, with sharp, prominent shoulderbones”)
• barrhaddaðr (“leafy-haired (used of the earth)”)
• barrviðr (“pine-forest; the wood of the fir”)

Descendants

• Icelandic: barr
• Faroese: barr
• Norwegian Bokmål: barr, bar
• Norwegian Nynorsk: bar
• Old Swedish: bar
  • Swedish: barr

Further reading

• Zoëga, Geir T. (1910), “barr”, in A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press, page 42; also available at the Internet Archive

Romani

Alternative forms

• bar
• bař (Pan-Vlax)

Etymology

Inherited from Sanskrit *वर्त (*varta, “round stone”).

Noun

barr m (nominative plural barra)

1. (International Standard) stone, rock

Derived terms

• barrorro
• barrutno

Swedish

Etymology

From Old Norse barr.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: barr

Noun

barr n

1. needle; leaf of a coniferous tree

   tallbarr

   pine needle

2. (dated, slang, uncountable) hair

Declension

Declension of barr

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	barr	barrs
	definite	barret	barrets
plural	indefinite	barr	barrs
	definite	barren	barrens

Hyponyms

• granbarr, tallbarr

Related terms

• barra

See also

• burr

Noun

barr c

1. (gymnastics) parallel bars

Declension

Declension of barr

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	barr	barrs
	definite	barren	barrens
plural	indefinite	barrar	barrars
	definite	barrarna	barrarnas

References

• “barr”, in Svensk ordbok [Dictionary of Swedish] (in Swedish)
• “barr”, in Svenska Akademiens ordlista [Wordlist of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)
• “barr”, in Svenska Akademiens ordbok [Dictionary of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)