bard

¹

[ bahrd ]

noun

1. (formerly) a person who composed and recited epic or heroic poems, often while playing the harp, lyre, or the like.
2. one of an ancient Celtic order of composers and reciters of poetry.
3. any poet.
4. the bard, William Shakespeare.

bard

²

[ bahrd ]

noun

1. Armor. any of various pieces of defensive armor for a horse.
2. Cooking. a thin slice of fat or bacon secured to a roast of meat or poultry to prevent its drying out while cooking.

verb (used with object)

1. Armor. to caparison with bards.
2. Cooking. to secure thin slices of fat or bacon to (a roast of meat or poultry) before cooking.

bard

¹

/ bɑːd /

noun

1. a piece of larding bacon or pork fat placed on game or lean meat during roasting to prevent drying out
2. an ornamental caparison for a horse

verb

1. to place a bard on

Bard

²

/ bɑːd /

noun

1. the Bard
   an epithet of William Shakespeare

bard

³

/ bɑːd /

noun

1. 1. (formerly) one of an ancient Celtic order of poets who recited verses about the exploits, often legendary, of their tribes
   2. (in modern times) a poet who wins a verse competition at a Welsh eisteddfod
2. archaic.
   any poet, esp one who writes lyric or heroic verse or is of national importance

Derived Forms

• ˈbardic, adjective
• ˈbardism, noun

Other Words From

• bardic adjective
• bardish bardlike adjective
• bardship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bard¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Celtic; compare Irish, Scots Gaelic bard, Welsh bardd, Breton barz < Indo-European *gwrs-do-s singer, akin to Albanian grisha (I) invited (to a wedding)

Origin of bard²

1470–80; < Middle French barde < Southern Italian barda armor for a horse < Arabic bardaʿah packsaddle < Persian pardah covering

Word History and Origins

Origin of bard¹

C15: from Old French barde , from Old Italian barda , from Arabic barda`ah packsaddle

Origin of bard²

C14: from Scottish Gaelic; related to Welsh bardd

Example Sentences

Nearly a decade after the death of his 15-year-old son, the Australian post-punk bard has a new album, ‘Wild God,’ that he says finds a path to joy.

From Los Angeles Times

Ukrainians displaced by war find new purpose in Shakespeare’s play of love, loss and madness, bringing their blood-red version to the bard’s hometown.

From Los Angeles Times

Majok has staked her claim as the bard of Newark, N.J., where many of her plays are set, including “Sanctuary City.”

From Seattle Times

On Friday morning, the city will turn out to say farewell to the Kent-born, London-raised punk turned bard of the Irish immigrant experience.

From BBC

The multitudes of British-born people who, like Shane, returned often to their parents' Ireland, now had a bard of their own.

From BBC