Bār'on, n.
n. [Fr. baron, O. Fr. ber, acc. baron, bairon, Pr. bar, acc. barō, Sp. varon, Pg. varão, It. barone, L. Lat. baro, barus, varo, viro, originally probably of Ger. origin, from Goth. vair, Icel. & A-S. ver, O. H. Ger. wir, wer, Lat. vir. Cf. Lat. baro, a simple, foolish man.]
Sense 1. In England, a title or degree of nobility; one who holds the rank of nobility between a viscount and baronet, being the lowest grade of rank in the House of Lords.
Sense 2. (Law.) A husband; as, baron and feme, husband and wife. Cowell.
Baron of beef, two surloins not cut asunder. Smart.—Barons of the Cinque Ports, formerly members of the House of Commons, elected by the seven Cinque Ports, two for each port. These ports were Dover, Sandwich, Romney, Hastings, Hythe, Winchelsea, and Rye. Blackstone.—Barons of the exchequer, the five judges who try cases between the king and his subjects relating to the revenue.
