bank barn

noun

, Chiefly Midland U.S. and Canadian (chiefly Ontario).

1. a barn built into the side of a hill or with earth banked around it, often a two-story barn thus having a ground-level entrance for each story.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bank barn¹

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95

Example Sentences

The property includes a smokehouse, bank barn, stable, corn crib and two-story staff quarters.

From Washington Post

Beams from the bank barn were used to build the stables.

From Washington Post

I walked to Pioneertown’s film set, Mane Street, passing its stores, bank, barn and hay bales and imagined the bustle during its heyday.

From The Guardian

The bank barn, which means it was built on a hill to accommodate livestock on the lower level and storage on the upper level, was originally used for milk cows, steers, hogs, and storing hay and straw mows, Bonnie Schimming said.

From Washington Times

The bank barn, which means it was built on a hill to accommodate livestock on the lower level and storage on the upper level, was originally used for milk cows, steers, hogs, and storing hay and straw mows, Bonnie Schimming said.

From Seattle Times