bārō¹

Meaning

1. derogatorysimpleton, dunce, lout (a boorish and uneducated person)

Declension

Origins

Unknown, likely a loanword. Cf. bardus (“stupid”).

Meaning

1. Classical Latinman
   ut ei qui mihi fraudem fecerit sanitatem ei non permittas nec iacere nec sedere nec bibere nec manducare si baro si mulier si puer si puella si servus si liber...[I ask] that you not allow the one who has committed a crime against me to have good health, nor to lie, sit, drink, or eat, whether [they be] a man or woman, boy or girl, slave or freeman...AD 150–275, Curse-tablet from Britain Brit. 23.5
   si quis baronem ingenuum de via sua ostaverit aut inpinxerit [...] dc dinarios qui faciunt solidos xv culpabilis iudicetur si quis mulierem ingenuam de via ostaveritaut inpinxerit mdccc dinarios qui faciunt solidos xlv culpabilis iudiceturShould anyone shove a freeborn man out of their way … they shall be fined 600 denarii, which amounts to 15 solidi. Should anyone shove a freeborn woman out of their way, they shall be fined 1800 denarii, which amounts to 45 solidi.Ca. AD 500, Lex Salica 31.1–2
2. Late Latinmercenary
   mercennarii sunt qui serviunt accepta mercede idem et barones graeco nomine quod sint fortes in laboribus βαρύς enim dicitur gravis quod est fortis cui contrarius est levis id est infirmusAD 600–625, Isidore's Etymologiae 9.4.31
3. EarlyLate LatinMedieval Latinsoldier's servant
   lingua gallorum barones vel varones dicuntur servi militumIn the parlance of the Gauls, the servants of soldiers are called barones or varones.Probably 4th–9th c. AD, Commentum Cornuti 5.138
4. EarlyMedieval Latinfreeman
   si quis ex baronibus nostris ad nos voluerit venire securus veniatShould any of our barones[?] wish to come to us, let him do so safely...AD 643, Edictum Rothari 1.17
5. EarlyMedieval Latinserf
   et in insola ipsa mancipios tres et parones quattuor ista omnia ad ipsum monasterium superius nominatum tradimus...as well as three slaves and four serfs on the island. We donate all this to the aforementioned monastery...AD 741, Deed of donation in St. Gallen
6. Medieval Latinin pluralthe notables (of a kingdom, country, or city)
7. Medieval Latinvassal
8. Medieval Latinbaron
9. Medieval Latinfamous man

Declension

Origins

From Proto-West Germanic *barō, although a Celtic origin has also been proposed. See baron for more. Possibly attested as early as AD 97–105.

Related words