bard

noun \ ˈbärd \

Definition of bard

1 a : a tribal poet-singer skilled in composing and reciting verses on heroes and their deeds

b : a composer, singer, or declaimer of epic or heroic verse

2 : poet

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bardic

play \ˈbär-dik\ adjective

Origin and Etymology of bard

Middle English, from Scottish Gaelic & Irish

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

bard

noun \ ˈbärd \

variants: or barde

Definition of bard

: a piece of armor or ornament for a horse's neck, breast, or flank

Origin and Etymology of bard

borrowed from Middle French barde, going back to Old French, "packsaddle, saddle cover," borrowed from Arabic bardʽa (or borrowed from Italian barda in sense "piece of armor for a horse," borrowed from Arabic)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

bard

verb

Definition of bard

barded; barding; bards

transitive verb

1 : to furnish (a horse's neck, breast, or flank) with a piece of armor or ornament : to furnish with bards (see ²bard)

[borrowed from French barder, verbal derivative of barde "strip of fat to cover meat," figurative use of barde "piece of armor for a horse, packsaddle"]

: to dress meat for cooking by covering with strips of fat