barker

¹

[ bahr-ker ]

noun

1. an animal or person that barks. bark.
2. a person who stands before a theater, carnival sideshow, or the like, calling out its attractions to passers-by.

barker

²

[ bahr-ker ]

noun

1. a person or thing that removes bark from trees.
2. a person or thing that prepares bark for tanning.

barker

¹

/ ˈbɑːkə /

noun

1. a person or machine that removes bark from trees or logs or prepares it for tanning

barker

²

/ ˈbɑːkə /

noun

1. an animal or person that barks
2. a person who stands at a show, fair booth, etc, and loudly addresses passers-by to attract customers

Barker

³

/ ˈbɑːkə /

noun

1. BarkerGeorge (Granville)19131991MBritishWRITING: poet George ( Granville ). 1913–91, British poet: author of Calamiterror (1937) and The True Confession of George Barker (1950)
2. BarkerHoward1946MBritishWRITING: playwright Howard . born 1946, British playwright: his plays include Claw (1975), The Castle (1985), A Hard Heart (1992), and 13 Objects (2003)
3. BarkerRonnie19292005MBritishTHEATRE: comedian Ronnie , full name Ronald William George Barker . 1929–2005, British comedian: known esp for his partnership with Ronnie Corbett (born 1930) in the TV series The Two Ronnies (1971–85)

Word History and Origins

Origin of barker¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, barker is from the Middle English word berker, berkar. See bark ¹, -er ¹

Origin of barker²

1375–1425, earlier as surname; late Middle English. See bark ² (v.), -er ¹

Example Sentences

Instead, this carnival barker has repackaged old hatreds from the past.

From Salon

I mean, literally physically starving a lot of the time, and he learned to be a carnival barker, a stilt walker.

From Salon

Trump’s “art of the steal” and his very skillful gaslighting can also be described as the art of the fairground barker à la P.T.

From Salon

The barkers and clowns that manifest when Trump and cameras are present would create a spectacle that reminds viewers what a vote for Trump really means.

From Salon

The reality of thousands dying in the Middle East overshadows the sideshow barker who complains that he had every right to keep classified information, while at the same time claiming he didn’t have it.

From Salon

Related Words

• debater
• orator
• raconteur