bark

bark

bark¹ [bärk]

n.

[ME < ON bǫrkr, akin to MLowG borke]

1. the outside covering of the stems and roots of trees and woody plants

2. some kinds of this matter used in tanning, dyeing, etc.

3. CINCHONA

vt.

1. to treat with a bark infusion, as in leather tanning

2. to take the bark off; specif., to girdle (a tree)

3. Informal to scrape some skin off [to bark one's shin]

SYN.- SKIN

bark² [bärk]

vi.

[ME berken < OE beorcan, akin to ON berkja, of echoic orig.]

1. to make the characteristic sharp, abrupt cry of a dog

2. to make a sound like this [the engine barked]

3. to speak or shout sharply; snap

4. Informal to cough

☆ 5. Slang to advertise a show, sale, etc. by shouting about it in public

vt.

to say or advertise with a bark or shout

n.

1. the sharp, abrupt sound made by a dog

2. any sharp, abrupt sound or utterance like this

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☆ bark up the wrong tree

to misdirect one's attack, energies, etc.

bark³ [bärk]

n.

[ME barke, prob. via Port or ML barca (> OFr barque) < LL, small boat: see BARGE]

1. Old Poet. any boat, esp. a small sailing boat

2. a sailing vessel with its two forward masts square-rigged and its rear mast rigged fore and aft