From Middle English barken, berken, borken, from Old English beorcan (“to bark”), from the Proto-West Germanic *berkan (“to bark”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerg- (“to make a noise, growl, bark”), from *bʰer- (“to drone, hum, buzz”).
Cognate with Icelandic berkja (“to bark, bluster”), Icelandic barki (“throat, windpipe”), dialectal Lithuanian burgė́ti (“to growl, grumble, grouch, quarrel”), Serbo-Croatian brbljati (“to murmur”). For the noun, compare Old English beorc, bearce (“barking”).
From Middle English barken, berken, borken, from Old English beorcan (“to bark”), from the Proto-West Germanic *berkan (“to bark”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerg- (“to make a noise, growl, bark”), from *bʰer- (“to drone, hum, buzz”).
Cognate with Icelandic berkja (“to bark, bluster”), Icelandic barki (“throat, windpipe”), dialectal Lithuanian burgė́ti (“to growl, grumble, grouch, quarrel”), Serbo-Croatian brbljati (“to murmur”). For the noun, compare Old English beorc, bearce (“barking”).
Meanings
The short, loud, explosive sound uttered by a dog, a fox, and some other animals.
(figuratively) An abrupt loud vocal utterance.
Fox’s clumsy figure, negligently dressed in blue and buff, seemed unprepossessing; only his shaggy eyebrows added to the expression of his face; his voice would rise to a bark in excitement. c. 1921, The Cambridge History of English and American Literature, volume 11:
Long before Shap platform showed up around a corner and the two arms on the gradient post drooped in both directions at once, Duchess of Buccleuch's amiable throbbing purr at the stack [funnel, chimney] had become a fierce freight-engine bark, as she resolutely dragged at her enormous load. 1949 January and February, F. G. Roe, “I Saw Three Englands–1”, in Railway Magazine, page 12:
The quick opening of the hi-hat cymbal as it is hit, followed by its timely closing.
(countable) (video games) A short, repeatable, and unobtrusive voiceline spoken by an NPC.
From Middle English barken, berken, borken, from Old English beorcan (“to bark”), from the Proto-West Germanic *berkan (“to bark”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerg- (“to make a noise, growl, bark”), from *bʰer- (“to drone, hum, buzz”).
Cognate with Icelandic berkja (“to bark, bluster”), Icelandic barki (“throat, windpipe”), dialectal Lithuanian burgė́ti (“to growl, grumble, grouch, quarrel”), Serbo-Croatian brbljati (“to murmur”). For the noun, compare Old English beorc, bearce (“barking”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To make a short, loud, explosive noise with the vocal organs (said of animals, especially dogs).
The neighbour's dog is always barking.
The seal barked as the zookeeper threw fish into its enclosure.
(intransitive) To make a clamor; to make importunate outcries.
And therefore they bark, and say the scripture maketh heretics. 1530, Tyndale, A Pathway into the Holy Scripture:
Where there is the barking of the belly, there no other commands will be heard, much less obeyed. 1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI):
(transitive) To speak sharply.
The sergeant barked an order.
Sudden anger rose in him. “What I’m looking for,” he barked, “is to be left in peace.” His voice trembled with a rage far bigger than her intrusion merited, the rage which shocked him whenever it coursed through his nervous system, like a flood. 2001, Salman Rushdie, Fury: A Novel, London: Jonathan Cape, →ISBN, page 5:
Plainly he was prepared to bark out an interminable succession of charges against the Wanderer. 1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 3:
While McCarthy prowled the touchline barking orders, his opposite number watched on motionless and expressionless and, with 25 minutes to go, decided to throw on Nicolas Anelka for Kalou. 2011 January 5, Mark Ashenden, “Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Chelsea”, in BBC:
hy հաչալ (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · lv riet (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sa रायटी (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · dz ཧབ (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · jje 캉캉ᄒᆞ다 (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · uk га́вкати (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · fr aboyer (to make a clamor) · fa هاپ کردن (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · as ভুকা (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sv skälla (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sl lajati (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · nay yrongumilun (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · arz ينبح (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · pl szczekać (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · qu ch'aqway (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · cs štěkat (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · cy arthio (to speak sharply) · tr bağırmak (to make a clamor) · sa बुक्कति (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · br harzhal (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ky үрүү (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · km ព្រុស (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · eo boji (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sk brechať (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · de blaffen (to speak sharply) · fi murista (to make a clamor) · km លូ (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ckb ھەپا (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ltg rīt (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ga amhastraigh (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · mi pari (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · enm berken (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · za aep (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · mk лае (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · nv nahałʼin (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · da bjæffe (to speak sharply) · ar نَبَحَ (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · bg рева (to make a clamor) · mn хуцах (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · st bohola (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · cmn 汪汪叫 (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · tr ürümek (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · hu ugat (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · el γαβγίζω (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ta குரை (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · tl tahol (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · it abbaiare (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sah үр (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · om dutuu (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · bg изрева (to speak sharply) · da gø (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · af blaf (to speak sharply) · se ciellat (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · gd tabhannaich (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · zlw-ocs láti (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · de brüllen (to speak sharply) · yi בילן (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · id menggonggong (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · tl kahol (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · be пабраха́ць (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · nrf ouasser (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ceb hulhol (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · io aboyar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · nl blaffen (to speak sharply) · sco berk (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · fr japper (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · nn gjøde (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · fr aboyer (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · fa پارس کردن (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · za raeuq (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · gl atouzar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · rm urlar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ast lladrar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ar يَنْبَح (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · bg ла́я (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sc baulare (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · be браха́ць (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · oj migi (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · rm giapar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sco bouff (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · hi भौंकना (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · tr havlamak (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · el γαβγίζω (to speak sharply) · es ladrar (to speak sharply) · ga sceamh (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · yo gbó (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · et haukuma (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · pt latir (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ca lladrar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · co aghjabà (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · qu ayñay (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ja 吠える (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · pot mgëw (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sc abbaulare (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · scn abbajari (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sdn abbaggjà (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · jje 줓다 (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ms gonggong (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sh ла̏јати (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · fur bajâ (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · su papagan (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ru ла́ять (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · scn abbaiari (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · zza qiren (to make a clamor) · sh lȁjati (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · nn gjøda (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · th เห่า (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · wa hawer (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · crh talamaq (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · mi pahupahu (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ms salak (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · mk вреви (to make a clamor) · fi haukkua (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · pi bhussati (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · jje 옹공공ᄒᆞ다 (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · cs štěknout (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · de bellen (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · uk га́вкнути (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · enm berken (to make a clamor) · ia latrar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · pox börĕt (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · co abbaghjà (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · yue 吠 (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · msk taol (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · zza lawen (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sk havkať (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sdc abbagià (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ru га́вкать (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · crh ürümek (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ta கத்து (to speak sharply) · bg изревавам (to speak sharply) · gl touzar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ca bordar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · grc ὑλακτέω (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · mi pahu (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ka ყეფა (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ne भुक्नु (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · zku warru-warrukanthi (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · lo ເຫົ່າ (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · lmo baià (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · tr bağırmak (to speak sharply) · mt nebaħ (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · af blaf (to make a clamor) · af blaf (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · da råbe op (to make a clamor) · rm bublar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ba өрөү (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · fi ärjyä (to speak sharply) · wym njaffa (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sq leh (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · vec bagiar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ro lătra (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · gl aloufar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · fi ärjäistä (to speak sharply) · ga bí ag tafann (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · az hürmək (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · rm giappar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · mi haru (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · kw hartha (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · jje 죾다 (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · pt ladrar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · pam kaung (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · sk štekať (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · fa لاییدن (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · fo goyggja (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · gd comhartaich (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · bg вдигам шум (to make a clamor) · nl blaffen (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · da råbe (to speak sharply) · cdo 吠 (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ket ыын (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ta குலை (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · yi האַווקען (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · uk бреха́ти (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · lt loti (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · rup latru (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · unm mëkike (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · el γαβγίζω (to make a clamor) · cy cyfarth (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · is gelta (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · gl latir (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · mr भुंकणे (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ru ря́вкнуть (to speak sharply) · ru ря́вкать (to speak sharply) · la lātrō (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · non geyja (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · nb gjø (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ko 짖다 (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · cmn 吠 (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · fi nurista (to make a clamor) · rm bubler (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · vo vaulön (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · ang beorcan (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · vec bajar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · mi au (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · vi sủa (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · zza zıren (to speak sharply) · es ladrar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · da bjæffe (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · os рӕйын (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · gl ladrar (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · he נָבַח (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · tgb mongusig (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · rm üerler (to make a loud noise (dogs)) · fi haukahtaa (to make a loud noise (dogs))
From Middle English bark, from Old English barc (“bark”), from Old Norse bǫrkr (“tree bark”), from Proto-Germanic *barkuz, probably related to *birkijǭ (“birch”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerHǵós (compare Latin frāxinus (“ash”), Lithuanian béržas (“birch”)), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerHǵ- (“to gleam; white”) (compare English bright); akin to Danish bark, Icelandic börkur, Low German borke and Albanian berk (“bast”).
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) The exterior covering of the trunk and branches of a tree or of various other woody plants.
The hardships of bark-collecting in the primeval forests of South America are of the severest kind, and undergone only by the half-civilized Indians and people of mixed race, in the pay of speculators or companies located in the towns. Those who are engaged in the business, especially the collectors themselves, are called Cascarilleros or Cascadores, from the Spanish word Cascara, bark. 1879, Friedrich August Flückiger et al., Pharmacographia..., page 346:
Moving about 70 miles per hour, it crashed through the sturdy old-growth trees, snapping their limbs and shredding bark from their trunks. 2012 December 26, John Branch, “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Nov 2013:
(countable, uncountable) Peruvian bark or Jesuit's bark, the bark of the cinchona from which quinine is produced.
(countable, uncountable) Hard candy made in flat sheets, for instance out of chocolate, peanut butter, toffee or peppermint.
(countable, uncountable) The crust formed on barbecued meat that has had a rub applied to it.
This softens the meat further, but at some loss of crunch to the bark. 2009, Julie Reinhardt, She-Smoke: A Backyard Barbecue Book, page 151:
(countable, uncountable) The envelopment or outer covering of anything.
ta பட்டை (exterior covering of a tree) · cmn 樹皮 /树皮 (exterior covering of a tree) · de Rinde (exterior covering of a tree) · fi kaarna (exterior covering of a tree) · za naeng (exterior covering of a tree) · de Borke (exterior covering of a tree) · ca escorça (exterior covering of a tree) · wyi bulum (exterior covering of a tree) · bo ཤིང་པགས (exterior covering of a tree) · tg қишр (exterior covering of a tree) · hil panit sa kahoy (exterior covering of a tree) · my အခေါက် (exterior covering of a tree) · pt casca (exterior covering of a tree) · sl lubje (exterior covering of a tree) · ur چھال (exterior covering of a tree) · lo ເປືອກ (exterior covering of a tree) · yur 'warkwech (exterior covering of a tree) · lv tāss (exterior covering of a tree) · chr ᎤᏯᎸ (exterior covering of a tree) · nl schors (exterior covering of a tree) · ltg miza (exterior covering of a tree) · rup shcoarci (exterior covering of a tree) · da bark (exterior covering of a tree) · wyi bo.ar.rer (exterior covering of a tree) · rue кора (exterior covering of a tree) · vi vỏ (exterior covering of a tree) · km សំបកឈើ (exterior covering of a tree) · pl łub (exterior covering of a tree) · eo arboŝelo (exterior covering of a tree) · enm bark (exterior covering of a tree) · ain カㇷ゚ (exterior covering of a tree) · hy կեղև (exterior covering of a tree) · oj wanagekwag (exterior covering of a tree) · et koor (exterior covering of a tree) · gd sgrath (exterior covering of a tree) · fa پوست درخت (exterior covering of a tree) · xsv tosis (exterior covering of a tree) · fur scuarce (exterior covering of a tree) · mt qoxra (exterior covering of a tree) · nrf p'liche dé bouais (exterior covering of a tree) · mn ᠬᠣᠯᠲᠤᠰᠤ (exterior covering of a tree) · lmo rusca (exterior covering of a tree) · wyi durndirri (exterior covering of a tree) · ms kulit kayu (exterior covering of a tree) · he קְלִפָּה (exterior covering of a tree) · dsb škóra (exterior covering of a tree) · csb kóra (exterior covering of a tree) · uz qobiq (exterior covering of a tree) · vi vỏ cây (exterior covering of a tree) · nn bork (exterior covering of a tree) · ro scoarță (exterior covering of a tree) · fo børkur (exterior covering of a tree) · uz poʻst (exterior covering of a tree) · gv roost (exterior covering of a tree) · tl balatkahoy (exterior covering of a tree) · oc escòrça (exterior covering of a tree) · fr écorce (exterior covering of a tree) · grc φλοιός (exterior covering of a tree) · zu ixolo (exterior covering of a tree) · stq Boark (exterior covering of a tree) · gd cairt (exterior covering of a tree) · bo ཤིང་ཤུན (exterior covering of a tree) · ltg tuoss (exterior covering of a tree) · wa schoice (exterior covering of a tree) · es corteza (exterior covering of a tree) · arz جدع (exterior covering of a tree) · bg кора́ (exterior covering of a tree) · ivv kodit no kayo (exterior covering of a tree) · gl cortiza (exterior covering of a tree) · fa توژ (exterior covering of a tree) · lmo rüsca (exterior covering of a tree) · mi pāpākiri (exterior covering of a tree) · sh kora (exterior covering of a tree) · mn холтос (exterior covering of a tree) · sah хатырык (exterior covering of a tree) · mi hiako (exterior covering of a tree) · mww tawv (exterior covering of a tree) · hi छाल (exterior covering of a tree) · rup coaji (exterior covering of a tree) · sw gamba (exterior covering of a tree) · ru кора́ (exterior covering of a tree) · ln lomposo (exterior covering of a tree) · lt tóšis (exterior covering of a tree) · scn scorcia (exterior covering of a tree) · vec scòrç (exterior covering of a tree) · yi קאָרע (exterior covering of a tree) · zea schosse (exterior covering of a tree) · ki igoko (exterior covering of a tree) · cs kůra (exterior covering of a tree) · bn ছাল (exterior covering of a tree) · lb Schuel (exterior covering of a tree) · it scorza (exterior covering of a tree) · wa pelake (exterior covering of a tree) · ltg krejš (exterior covering of a tree) · sa वल्क (exterior covering of a tree) · tk gabyk (exterior covering of a tree) · tl balat ng kahoy (exterior covering of a tree) · tr kabuk (exterior covering of a tree) · sk kôra (exterior covering of a tree) · tt кабык (exterior covering of a tree) · ang rind (exterior covering of a tree) · nrf êcorche (exterior covering of a tree) · wyi milowon (exterior covering of a tree) · lo ເປືອກໄມ້ (exterior covering of a tree) · oj wanagek (exterior covering of a tree) · xsv sakstis (exterior covering of a tree) · fi tuohi (exterior covering of a tree) · sa त्वच् (exterior covering of a tree) · eu oskol (exterior covering of a tree) · ja 木の皮 (exterior covering of a tree) · hu kéreg (exterior covering of a tree) · nl bast (exterior covering of a tree) · ne बोक्रा (exterior covering of a tree) · ky кабык (exterior covering of a tree) · sh кора (exterior covering of a tree) · is börkur (exterior covering of a tree) · om qola (exterior covering of a tree) · ka ქერქი (exterior covering of a tree) · yue 樹皮 /树皮 (exterior covering of a tree) · th เปลือก (exterior covering of a tree) · gl casca (exterior covering of a tree) · pms rusca (exterior covering of a tree) · ttj ekisusu class 7 (exterior covering of a tree) · lv miza (exterior covering of a tree) · se bárku (exterior covering of a tree) · ga snamh (exterior covering of a tree) · sq lëvore (exterior covering of a tree) · sa तरुत्वच् (exterior covering of a tree) · id kulit pohon (exterior covering of a tree) · am ልጥ (exterior covering of a tree) · mns-nor хуруп (exterior covering of a tree) · cy rhisgl (exterior covering of a tree) · tr ağaç kabuğu (exterior covering of a tree) · nv aháshtʼóózh (exterior covering of a tree) · as বাকলি (exterior covering of a tree) · ba ҡабыҡ (exterior covering of a tree) · hai giit (exterior covering of a tree) · syl ꠛꠣꠇꠟ (exterior covering of a tree) · srn buba (exterior covering of a tree) · ast corteza (exterior covering of a tree) · te మొరుగు (exterior covering of a tree) · kk қабық (exterior covering of a tree) · nv azhííh (exterior covering of a tree) · gl paraza (exterior covering of a tree) · haw ʻili lāʻau (exterior covering of a tree) · zne fuge (exterior covering of a tree) · wyi thaap (exterior covering of a tree) · id pepagan (exterior covering of a tree) · sm paʻu (exterior covering of a tree) · kw rusken (exterior covering of a tree) · ko 수피 (exterior covering of a tree) · az qabıq (exterior covering of a tree) · io kortico (exterior covering of a tree) · be кара́ (exterior covering of a tree) · gd rùsg (exterior covering of a tree) · oc rusca (exterior covering of a tree) · ta பொருக்கு (exterior covering of a tree) · jje 낭거죽 (exterior covering of a tree) · fo bark (exterior covering of a tree) · yo èèpo (exterior covering of a tree) · nb bark (exterior covering of a tree) · ga coirt (exterior covering of a tree) · ccc is̈hoopa (exterior covering of a tree) · lnj iwin (exterior covering of a tree) · ko 나무껍질 (exterior covering of a tree) · sl skorja (exterior covering of a tree) · ta மரப்பட்டை (exterior covering of a tree) · fi puunkuori (exterior covering of a tree) · af bas (exterior covering of a tree) · uz poʻstloq (exterior covering of a tree) · fi parkki (exterior covering of a tree) · sc corzola (exterior covering of a tree) · sga rúsc (exterior covering of a tree) · lt žievė̃ (exterior covering of a tree) · gl tona (exterior covering of a tree) · sl lub (exterior covering of a tree) · ga rúsc (exterior covering of a tree) · la cortex (exterior covering of a tree) · sv bark (exterior covering of a tree) · uli gil irea (exterior covering of a tree) · th เปลือกไม้ (exterior covering of a tree) · pl kora (exterior covering of a tree) · zu igxolo (exterior covering of a tree) · el φλοιός (exterior covering of a tree) · bo ཤིང་གི་པགས་པ (exterior covering of a tree) · gl arna (exterior covering of a tree) · wyi wilam (exterior covering of a tree) · tg пӯст (exterior covering of a tree) · ja 樹皮 (exterior covering of a tree) · tg пӯстлох (exterior covering of a tree) · fa پوست (exterior covering of a tree) · fy skors (exterior covering of a tree) · tgb sansag (exterior covering of a tree) · mk кора (exterior covering of a tree) · pjt likara (exterior covering of a tree) · ta வற்கம் (exterior covering of a tree) · ln loposo (exterior covering of a tree) · it corteccia (exterior covering of a tree) · bkt lomposo (exterior covering of a tree) · ar لِحَاء (exterior covering of a tree) · br ruskenn (exterior covering of a tree) · uk кора́ (exterior covering of a tree)
From Middle English bark, from Old English barc (“bark”), from Old Norse bǫrkr (“tree bark”), from Proto-Germanic *barkuz, probably related to *birkijǭ (“birch”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerHǵós (compare Latin frāxinus (“ash”), Lithuanian béržas (“birch”)), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerHǵ- (“to gleam; white”) (compare English bright); akin to Danish bark, Icelandic börkur, Low German borke and Albanian berk (“bast”).
Meanings
To strip the bark from; to peel.
Along the river freshly felled and barked trees told of the activity of beaver, and in slow current and in eddies the tops of their winter's food supply lay like submerged brush fences projecting above the surface. 1922, A. M. Chisholm, A Thousand a Plate:
To abrade or rub off any outer covering from.
I barked my shins climbing the fence.
Barcelona had been harried and hurried and stretched thin by the midway point in the second half. Tackles flew in. Toes were crushed, shins barked, ankles hacked. 2019 May 8, Barney Ronay, “Liverpool’s waves of red fury and recklessness end in joyous bedlam”, in The Guardian:
fi hiertyä (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · tr soymak (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · da afbarke (to strip the bark from, to peel) · da tække (to cover or inclose with bark, or as with bark) · fi kattaa (to cover or inclose with bark, or as with bark) · el αποφλοιώνω (to strip the bark from, to peel) · it scortecciare (to strip the bark from, to peel) · ru ободра́ть (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · fi tuohia (to strip the bark from, to peel) · bg ожулвам (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · ru ободра́ть кору́ (to strip the bark from, to peel) · ja 樹皮を剥ぐ (to strip the bark from, to peel) · el ξεφλουδίζω (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · ckb بحەپێ (to strip the bark from, to peel) · fi kuoria (to strip the bark from, to peel) · vo säjalön (to strip the bark from, to peel) · km បកសំបកឈើ (to strip the bark from, to peel) · bg обелвам кора на (to strip the bark from, to peel) · ckb بڕەوێ (to strip the bark from, to peel) · ru обдира́ть кору́ (to strip the bark from, to peel) · la glubo (to strip the bark from, to peel) · fi kuoria (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · fi aisata (to strip the bark from, to peel) · gd rùisg (to strip the bark from, to peel) · es descortezar (to strip the bark from, to peel) · bg покрия (to cover or inclose with bark, or as with bark) · fi hiertää (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · bg одирам (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · el γδέρνω (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · tr soymak (to strip the bark from, to peel) · mk лушти (to strip the bark from, to peel) · fr écorcer (to strip the bark from, to peel) · nv béshneʼ (to strip the bark from, to peel) · de abrinden (to strip the bark from, to peel) · pt descascar (to strip the bark from, to peel) · ru обдира́ть (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · tr kabuğunu soymak (to strip the bark from, to peel) · nl ontschorsen (to strip the bark from, to peel) · tr kabuğunu soymak (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · ba ҡабығын/ҡайырын һыҙырыу (to strip the bark from, to peel) · da skrubbe (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from) · el ξεφλουδίζω (to strip the bark from, to peel) · sv barka (to strip the bark from, to peel) · sq qëro (to strip the bark from, to peel) · cy rhisglo (to strip the bark from, to peel) · cy dirisglo (to strip the bark from, to peel) · gd plaoisg (to strip the bark from, to peel) · km បក (to strip the bark from, to peel) · bg покривам (to cover or inclose with bark, or as with bark) · nl schrapen (to abrade or rub off any outer covering from)
From Middle English barke (“boat”), from Middle French barque, from Late Latin barca, a regular syncope of Vulgar Latin *barica, from Classical Latin bāris, from Ancient Greek βᾶρις (bâris, “Egyptian boat”), from Coptic ⲃⲁⲁⲣⲉ (baare, “small boat”), from Demotic Egyptian br, from Egyptian bꜣjrb-bA-A-y:r*Z1-P1 (“transport ship”). Doublet of barge, barque and baris.
Meanings
(obsolete) A small sailing vessel, e.g. a pinnace or a fishing smack; a rowing boat or barge.
Nothing then remained for them but to commit their bark to the wind and waves. 1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 210:
(poetic) A sailing vessel or boat of any kind.
Whether my bark went down at sea, / Whether she met with gales, […] a. 1887 (date written), Emily Dickinson, “[Book I.—Life] Whether my bark went down at sea”, in Mabel Loomis Todd and T[homas] W[entworth] Higginson, editors, Poems, First Series, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, published 1890, →OCLC, page 38:
We know not where we go, or what sweet dream
May pilot us through caverns strange and fair
Of far and pathless passion, while the stream
Of life our bark doth on its whirlpools bear,
Spreading swift wings as sails to the dim air; […] 1817 December, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “The Revolt of Islam. […]”, in [Mary] Shelley, editor, The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. […], volume I, London: Edward Moxon […], published 1839, →OCLC, page 272:
It is the star to every wandering bark c. 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116:
A vessel, typically with three (or more) masts, with the foremasts (or fore- and mainmasts) square-rigged, and mizzenmast schooner-rigged.
Europeans would cross the ocean in large barks built for deck space and large holds. 1997, Mark Kurlansky, Cod, page 114: