barm

[ bahrm ]

noun

1. yeast formed on malt liquors while fermenting.

barm

/ bɑːm /

noun

1. the yeasty froth on fermenting malt liquors
2. an archaic or dialect word for yeast

Word History and Origins

Origin of barm¹

before 1000; Middle English berme, Old English beorma; cognate with Frisian berme, German Bärme, Swedish bärme; akin to ferment

Word History and Origins

Origin of barm¹

Old English bearm ; related to beran to bear , Old Norse barmr barm, Gothic barms , Old High German barm see ferment

Example Sentences

The post included a comment from the shop about what happens "when your customers are literally flying in for your roast beef in caramelised onion gravy barms".

From BBC

I love barm brack, a fruity Irish quick bread that usually shows up around Halloween and again for New Year's.

From Salon

It’s like eating a meat and potato pie, or ordering a barm cake, or seeing an old man wearing a flat cap while drinking a pint of mild.

From The Guardian

The line between zane, apparently not allowed, and barm, apparently allowed, is blurry.

From The Guardian

I reject both the chip barm and any attempt to serve a “posh” chip butty.

From The Guardian

Related Words

• balloon
• blob
• droplet
• foam
• froth