■ adjective
1》 (of land) too poor to produce much or any vegetation.
↘(of a tree or plant) not producing fruit or seed.
2》 (of a female animal) unable to bear young.
3》 bleak and lifeless.
4》 ( ~ of ) devoid of.
■ noun ( ~s ) chiefly N. Amer. ~ tracts of land.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. barhaine , of unknown origin.