Barkey (nautical).—A term of endearment in use amongst seafaring men
when speaking of a vessel to which they have got attached. ‘She’s a
barkey—she is, my lads!’
Barking-Irons, subs. (thieves’).—Pistols. Cf., Barker, sense 1.
Barking-iron is, historically, an older term than barker by about a
quarter of a century. Formerly applied, in the navy, to large duelling
pistols.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 173. Pistols, barking-irons.
1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. II., ch. vi. ‘And look you, prick
the touch-hole, or your barking-iron will never bite for you.’
Barking through the Fence, phr. (American).—A taking advantage of some
obstacle or shield for saying or doing something, which, but for such
protection, would not be said or done; or which if done or said might
entail unpleasant consequences upon the sayer or doer.
Barkshire, subs. (common).—Ireland.—See Bark.
Bark up the Wrong Tree, verbal phr. (American).—Of trapper and pioneer
derivation, and idiomatically used to signify that a person is at fault
as to his purpose, or the means by which he is endeavouring to attain
his object. The expression arose in this way: the Western huntsman
found that his prey gradually became more and more wily and cunning in
eluding pursuit, and frequently he and his dogs were at fault,
supposing they had ‘treed’ their game when in reality, especially in
the case of opossums and squirrels and such-like animals, it had
escaped by jumping from the boughs of one tree to another. The dogs
consequently were left barking up the wrong tree.
1835. Richmond Enquirer, Sep. 8. ‘You didn’t really go to old
Bullion,’ said a politician to an office-seeker, ‘Why, he has no
influence there, I can tell you. You barked up the wrong tree
there, my friend, and you deserve to fail.’
1888. Detroit Free Press, Oct. Professor Rose who ‘hit’ this town
last spring is around calling us a fugitive from justice, and
asking why the police don’t do something. Gently, Professor. When
we left Xenia, O., the Sheriff patted us on the back and lent us
half-a-dollar. We are the only man in this town who doesn’t turn
pale when the stage comes in, and the only one who doesn’t break
for the sage brush when it is announced that the United States
Marshal is here. We ain’t rich or pretty, but we are good, and the
Professor is barking up the wrong tree.
Barnaby. To dance barnaby, phr. (popular).—To move expeditiously;
irregularly.
Barnacle, subs. (old cant).—1. A pickpocket. For synonyms, see Area
sneak.
b. 1809, d. 1870. Mark Lemon, Leyton Hall. The man that stood
beside thee is old Crookfinger, the most notorious setter, barnacle
and foist in the city.