over a barrel

o·ver a bar·rel

O o

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [oh-ver ey bar-uh l]
- /ˈoʊ vər eɪ ˈbær əl/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [oh-ver ey bar-uh l]
- /ˈoʊ vər eɪ ˈbær əl/

Definitions of over a barrel words

noun over a barrel a cylindrical wooden container with slightly bulging sides made of staves hooped together, and with flat, parallel ends. 1
noun over a barrel the quantity that such a vessel of some standard size can hold: for most liquids, 31½ U.S. gallons (119 L); for petroleum, 42 U.S. gallons (159 L); for dry materials, 105 U.S. dry quarts (115 L). Abbreviation: bbl. 1
noun over a barrel any large quantity: a barrel of fun. 1
noun over a barrel any container, case, or part similar to a wooden barrel in form. 1
noun over a barrel Ordnance. the tube of a gun. 1
noun over a barrel Machinery. the chamber of a pump in which the piston works. 1

See all 20 definitions of over a barrel

Information block about the term

Origin of over a barrel

First appearance:

before 1250

One of the 11% oldest English words

1250-1300; Middle English barell < Anglo-French baril, Old French barril < Vulgar Latin *barrīculum, equivalent to *barrīc(a), perhaps derivative of Late Latin barra bar1 + Latin -ulum -ule; compare Medieval Latin (circa 800) barriclus small cask

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Over a barrel

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Over a barrel

over a barrel popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

over a barrel usage trend in Literature

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Synonyms for over a barrel

adj over a barrel

cleaned out — free from dirt; unsoiled; unstained: She bathed and put on a clean dress.
dirt poor — lacking nearly all material means or resources for living.
flat broke — having no money
helpless — unable to help oneself; weak or dependent: a helpless invalid.

All 7 Synonyms of over a barrel