Main Entry: ¹bar·rel

Pronunciation: \ˈber-əl, ˈba-rəl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English barel, from Anglo-French baril

Date: 14th century

1 : a round bulging vessel of greater length than breadth that is usually made of staves bound with hoops and has flat ends of equal diameter
2 a : the amount contained in a barrel; especially : the amount (as 31 gallons of fermented beverage or 42 gallons of petroleum) fixed for a certain commodity used as a unit of measure b : a great quantity
3 : a drum or cylindrical part: as a : the discharging tube of a gun b : the part of a fountain pen or of a pencil containing the ink or lead c : a cylindrical or tapering housing containing the optical components of a photographic-lens system and the iris diaphragm d : the fuel outlet from the carburetor on a gasoline engine
4 : the trunk of a quadruped

— bar·reled \-əld\ adjective

— on the barrel : asking for or granting no credit

— over a barrel : at a disadvantage : in an awkward position