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<botany> A valuable grain, of the family of grasses, genus Hordeum, used for food, and for making malt, from which are prepared beer, ale, and whisky.
<zoology> Barley bird, the siskin. Barley sugar, sugar boiled till it is brittle (formerly with a decoction of barley) and candied. Barley water, a decoction of barley, used in medicine, as a nutritive and demulcent.
Origin: OE. Barli, barlich, AS. Baerlic; bere barley + lic (which is prob. The same as E. Like, adj, or perh. A form of AS. Leac leek). AS. Bere is akin to Icel, barr barley, Goth. Barizeins made of barley, L. Far spelt; cf. W. Barlys barley, bara bread. 92. Cf. Farina, 6th Bear.
(01 Mar 1998)
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