Etymology Dictionary

BAR,  a rail, a stiff rod.  (F.,—C.)   M.E. barre, Chaucer, Prol. 1075; Havelok, 1794.—O.F. barre, of Celtic origin.—Bret. barren, a bar; bar, barr, the branch of a tree. + W. bar, a bar, rail. + Gael. and Irish barra, a bar, spike. + Corn. bara, verb, to bar.   [Cf. also O.H.G. para, M.H.G. bar, a beam; M.H.G. barre, a barrier.   Diez prefers the Celtic to the Teutonic origin.]   β. The original sense is, probably, 'a thing cut,' a shaped piece of wood; from ✔BHAR, to cut, pierce, bore, whence also E. bore.   See further under Bore, and Balk.   Der. barricade, q.v., barrier, q.v.; barrister, q.v.; prob. barrel, q.v.; and see embarrass.