DictionaryAI

barrow

noun
BAIR-oh/ˈbɛɹ.oʊ/BA-roh/ˈbæɹ.əʊ/

Pluralbarrows

7 meanings of barrow

Practice

  1. 1
    grave moundnouncountable
    A large pile of earth and stones built over one or more graves.

    Archaeologists opened the barrow and found an old sword inside.

    Sheep graze around the old barrow where the village's first chief was buried.

    Similarmound, tumulus

    Note
  2. 2
    hand cartnounBritishcountable
    A small cart that you push or pull by hand to carry things.

    The fruit seller pushed his barrow along the high street.

    We loaded the bags onto a barrow and wheeled them to the car park.

    Similarcart, handcart, wheelbarrow

    Note
  3. 3
    male pignouncountable
    A male pig that has had an operation so it cannot have young.

    The farmer kept the barrow in a pen away from the sows.

    This young barrow has gained a lot of weight since spring.

    Note
  4. 4
    noundialectalBritishcountable
    A hill, or a large raised piece of land.

    Similarhill, rise

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    salt basketnounobsoletecountable
    A basket of woven sticks where wet salt is left so the water can drip out.
    Note
  2. 6
    baby clothesnounobsoletecountable
    A long piece of baby clothing with no sleeves, made of soft, warm cloth.
  3. 7
    noundialectal
    A pile of waste left over from digging in a mine.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 4

From Old English beorg, meaning "hill" or "burial mound".

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

  • The mound sense of barrow derives from Old English beorg, meaning hill or burial mound. en.wiktionary.org
Meanings 2, 5

From Old English bearwe, meaning "basket" or "handbarrow", related to the word bear (to carry).

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

Meaning 3

From Old English bearg, meaning "boar".

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

Meaning 6

From an old Middle English word linked to berwen, meaning "to protect".

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

  • Barrow, meaning an infant's garment, derives from a Middle English word linked to berwen, meaning "to protect". en.wiktionary.org