Barrier
Barrier ({not transcribed}) , noun
[Old English barrere, barere, French barrière, from barre bar. See Bar, n.]
1.
(Fortification) A carpentry obstruction, stockade, or other obstacle made in a passage in order to stop an enemy.
2.
A fortress or fortified town, on the frontier of a country, commanding an avenue of approach.
3.
A fence or railing to mark the limits of a place, or to keep back a crowd.
No sooner were the barriers opened, than he paced into the lists.
4.
Any obstruction; anything which hinders approach or attack.
Constitutional barriers.
5.
Any limit or boundary; a line of separation.
'Twixt that [instinct] and reason, what a nice barrier!
Collocations (3)
Barrier gate , a heavy gate to close the opening through a barrier.
Barrier reef , a form of coral reef which runs in the general direction of the shore, and incloses a lagoon channel more or less extensive.
To fight at barriers , to fight with a barrier between, as a martial exercise. [Obsolete]