bark

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to tan a skin with bark tannins

   I learned how to bark a deer hide the traditional way.

2. 2
   verb

   to speak in an unfriendly tone

   They barked into the dictaphone.

3. 3
   verb

   to make barking sounds

   The dogs barked at the stranger.

4. 4
   verb

   to remove the bark of a tree

   We were barking for hours and I have a sore back.

5. 5
   verb

   To make a short, loud, explosive noise with the vocal organs (said of animals, especially dogs).

   The neighbour's dog is always barking.

6. 6
   verb

   To make a clamor; to make importunate outcries.

   And therefore they bark, and say the scripture maketh heretics.

7. 7
   verb

   To speak sharply.

   The sergeant barked an order.

8. 8
   noun

   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.

Etymology

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.