—n.
1 a cylindrical container usu. bulging out in the middle, traditionally made of wooden staves with metal hoops round them.
2 the contents of this.
3 a measure of capacity, usu. varying from 30 to 40 gallons.
4 a cylindrical tube forming part of an object such as a gun or a pen.
5 the belly and loins of a four-legged animal, e.g. a horse.
—v. (barrelled, barrelling; US barreled, barreling)
1 tr. put into a barrel or barrels.
2 intr. US sl. drive fast.
Phrases and idioms:
barrel-chested having a large rounded chest. barrel-organ a mechanical musical instrument in which a rotating pin-studded cylinder acts on a series of pipe-valves, strings, or metal tongues. barrel roll an aerobatic manoeuvre in which an aircraft follows a single turn of a spiral while rolling once about its longitudinal axis. barrel vault Archit. a vault forming a half cylinder. over a barrel colloq. in a helpless position; at a person's mercy.
Etymology: ME f. OF baril perh. f. Rmc.: rel to BAR(1)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.