Bär1, n.
n. [O. Eng. barre, Fr. barre, Pr., Sp., & It. barra, from W. bar, the branch of a tree, bar, bolt, baren, branch, Arm. bar, branch, barren, bar, Gael. & Ir. barra, bar.]
Sense 1. A piece of wood, metal, or other solid matter, long in proportion to its diameter or width, used for various purposes, but especially for a hinderance or obstruction; as, the bars of a fence or gate; the bar of a door or hatchway.
Sense 2. Any obstacle which obstructs, hinders, or defends; an obstruction; a barrier.
Must I new bars to my own joy create? Dryden.
Sense 3. A bank of sand, gravel, or other matter, forming a shoal at the mouth of a river or harbor, obstructing entrance, or rendering it difficult.
Sense 4. (Law.) (a.) The railing that incloses the place which counsel occupy in courts of justice. Hence, the phrase at the bar of the court signifies in open court. (b.) The place in court where prisoners are stationed for arraignment, trial, or sentence. (c.) The whole body of lawyers licensed in a court; the legal profession. (d.) A special plea constituting a sufficient answer to the plaintiff’s action. Burrill.
Sense 5. Any tribunal; as, the bar of public opinion; the bar of God.
Sense 6. The inclosed place of a tavern, inn, or coffee-house, where the landlord or his servant delivers out liquors, and waits upon customers. Addison.
Sense 7. (Her.) A horizontal mark across the escutcheon; a kind of ordinary containing only one fifth part of the field. Brande.
Sense 8. (Mus.) A line drawn perpendicularly across the staff, dividing it into equal measures of time.
☞ A double bar is used to indicate the end of a section or period, or the final close of a piece of music, or the end of a line of poetry. The term bar is very often loosely used for measure, i. e., for such length of music, or of silence, as is included between one bar and the next; as, a passage of eight bars; two bars’ rest.
Sense 9. (Far.) (pl.) (a.) Upper part of the gums of a horse, between the tusks and grinders, which bears no teeth, and to which the bit is applied. Johnson. (b.) Part of the hoof of a horse.
Sense 10. (Com.) An ingot, lump, or wedge, as of gold or silver, from the mines, run in a mold, and unwrought.
A trial at bar (Eng. Law), a trial in the courts of Westminster, opposed to a trial at Nisi Prius, in the circuits. — A case at bar is one presently before the court; a case under argument.