ˈbarən also ˈber- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English barun, baroun, baron, from Old French baron, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German baro man, freeman, probably akin to Old Norse berjask to fight, Old English borian to bore — more at bore
1.
a. : one of a class of tenants in chief of a feudal superior holding his rights and title by military or other honorable service
b. : one of a class of tenants in chief of the king summoned by writ to the central council of the king's tenants in chief
c. from the time of Henry III : one of the king's tenants in chief personally summoned to Parliament — called also baron by writ, great baron
d. : a lord of the realm : noble , peer
2.
a. : a member of the fifth and lowest grade of the peerage in Great Britain being entitled to be addressed as “Lord” and to sit in the House of Lords
b. : a nobleman on the continent of Europe whose rank and status vary from country to country
c. : a member of the lowest order of nobility in Japan
3. : one of the former freemen of London, York, and other places who were bound to attendance upon and service to the king as homagers
4. : a joint of meat consisting of two loins or sirloins not cut apart at the backbone
a baron of beef
5. : a man of great or overweening power or influence in some field of activity (as business or industry) — usually used with a specifying noun adjunct
coal baron
oil baron
lumber baron
cattle baron
6. : husband — used in law and heraldry usually with the correlative term feme
an escutcheon per pale baron and feme