barley 1
/bahr"lee/ , n.
1. a widely distributed cereal plant belonging to the genus Hordeum, of the grass family, having awned flowers that grow in tightly bunched spikes, with three small additional spikes at each node.
2. the grain of this plant, used as food and in making beer, ale, and whiskey.
[ bef. 1000; ME; OE baerlic (adj.), equiv. to baer- (var. of bere barley; akin to ON barr barley, Goth barizeins made of barley, Serbo-Croatian bràšno flour, L far emmer; all bH a er- spike, prickle, perh. akin to BEARD) + -lic -LY ]
barley 2
/bahr"lee/ , n. , pl. barleys . Scot. and North Eng.
a truce or quarter, esp. in children's games; parley.
[ 1805-15; prob. to be identified with Scots barley, burley, birlie local customary law (Compare BIRLEYMAN arbiter, birleycourt neighborhood court), var. of BIRLAW, ML birlawe, birelegia, birelag býjarlagu, equiv. to býjar gen. sing. of býr town (cf. BOWER 1 , BYRE) + * lagu LAW 1 ; cf. BY-LAW ]