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bard - 9 dictionary results

bard

1  [bahrd]
Use bard in a Sentence
–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.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < Celt; cf. Ir, ScotGael bard, Welsh bardd, Breton barz < IE *gwrs-do-s singer, akin to Albanian grisha (I) invited (to a wedding)

Related forms:
bardic, adjective
bardish, bardlike, adjective
bardship, noun

bard

2  [bahrd]
–noun
1. Armor. any of various pieces of defensive armor for a horse.
2. Cookery. 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)
3. Armor. to caparison with bards.
4. Cookery. to secure thin slices of fat or bacon to (a roast of meat or poultry) before cooking.
Also, barde (for defs. 1, 3).

Origin:
1470–80; < MF barde < Southern It barda armor for a horse < Ar bardaʿah packsaddle < Pers pardah covering
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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bard 1   (bärd)   
n.  
  1. One of an ancient Celtic order of minstrel poets who composed and recited verses celebrating the legendary exploits of chieftains and heroes.
  2. A poet, especially a lyric poet.

[Middle English, from Irish and Scottish Gaelic bard and from Welsh bardd; see gwerə-2 in Indo-European roots.]
bard'ic adj.
bard 2 also barde   (bärd)   
n.  A piece of armor used to protect or ornament a horse.
tr.v.   bard·ed, bard·ing, bards
  1. To equip (a horse) with bards.
  2. To cover (meat) in thin pieces of bacon or fat to preserve moisture during cooking.

[Middle English barde, from Old French, from Old Italian barda, from Arabic barda'a, packsaddle, from Persian pardah; see purdah.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Bard

Bard\, n. [Of Celtic origin; cf. W. bardd, Arm. barz, Ir. & Gael. bard, and F. barde.]

1. A professional poet and singer, as among the ancient Celts, whose occupation was to compose and sing verses in honor of the heroic achievements of princes and brave men.

2. Hence: A poet; as, the bard of Avon.

Bard

Bard\, Barde \Barde\, n. [F. barde, of doubtful origin.]

1. A piece of defensive (or, sometimes, ornamental) armor for a horse's neck, breast, and flanks; a barb. [Often in the pl.]

2. pl. Defensive armor formerly worn by a man at arms.

3. (Cookery) A thin slice of fat bacon used to cover any meat or game.

Bard

Bard\, v. t. (Cookery) To cover (meat or game) with a thin slice of fat bacon.

Bard

Bard\, n. [Akin to Dan. & Sw. bark, Icel. b["o]rkr, LG. & HG. borke.]

1. The exterior covering of the trunk and branches of a tree; the rind.

2. Specifically, Peruvian bark.

Bark bed. See Bark stove (below).

Bark pit, a pit filled with bark and water, in which hides are steeped in tanning.

Bark stove (Hort.), a glazed structure for keeping tropical plants, having a bed of tanner's bark (called a bark bed) or other fermentable matter which produces a moist heat.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : bard
Spanish: trovador, juglar,
German: der Minnesänger,
Japanese: 吟遊詩人
More Translations »

bard 
1449, from Scottish, from O.Celt. bardos "poet, singer," from PIE base *gwer- "to lift up the voice, praise." In historic times, a term of contempt among the Scots (who considered them itinerant troublemakers), but one of great respect among the Welsh.
"All vagabundis, fulis, bardis, scudlaris, and siclike idill pepill, sall be brint on the cheek." [local Scottish ordinance, c.1500]
Subsequently idealized by Scott in the more ancient sense of "lyric poet, singer." Poetic use of the word in English is from Gk. bardos, L. bardus, both from Gaulish. Bardolatry "worship of Shakespeare (the 'Bard of Avon')" first recorded 1901.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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