Part 526

Bard (bärd), n. [Of Celtic origin; cf. W. bardd, Arm. barz, Ir. & Gael. bard, and F. barde.] 1. A professional poet and singer, as among the ancient Celts, whose occupation was to compose and sing verses in honor of the heroic achievements of princes and brave men.

2. Hence: A poet; as, the bard of Avon.

{ Bard, Barde } (bärd), n. [F. barde, of doubtful origin.]

1. A piece of defensive (or, sometimes, ornamental) armor for a horse's neck, breast, and flanks; a barb. [Often in the pl.]

2. pl. Defensive armor formerly worn by a man at arms.

3. (Cookery) A thin slice of fat bacon used to cover any meat or game.

Bard, v. t. (Cookery) To cover (meat or game) with a thin slice of fat bacon.

Bard"ed, p. a. [See Bard horse armor.] 1. Accoutered with defensive armor; -- said of a horse.

2. (Her.) Wearing rich caparisons.

Fifteen hundred men . . . barded and richly trapped. Stow.

Bard"ic, a. Of or pertaining to bards, or their poetry. "The bardic lays of ancient Greece." G. P. Marsh.

Bard"ish, a. Pertaining to, or written by, a bard or bards. "Bardish impostures." Selden.

Bard"ism (-z'm), n. The system of bards; the learning and maxims of bards.

Bard"ling (-lng), n. An inferior bard. J. Cunningham.

Bard"ship, n. The state of being a bard.

Bare (bâr), a. [OE. bar, bare, AS. bær; akin to D. & G. baar, OHG. par, Icel. berr, Sw. & Dan. bar, OSlav. bos barefoot, Lith. basas; cf. Skr. bhs to shine. √85.]

1. Without clothes or covering; stripped of the usual covering; naked; as, his body is bare; the trees are bare.

2. With head uncovered; bareheaded.

When once thy foot enters the church, be bare. Herbert.

3. Without anything to cover up or conceal one's thoughts or actions; open to view; exposed.

Bare in thy guilt, how foul must thou appear!

Milton.

4. Plain; simple; unadorned; without polish; bald; meager. "Uttering bare truth." Shak.

5. Destitute; indigent; empty; unfurnished or scantily furnished; -- used with of (rarely with in) before the thing wanting or taken away; as, a room bare of furniture. "A bare treasury." Dryden.

6. Threadbare; much worn.

It appears by their bare liveries that they live by your bare words. Shak.

7. Mere; alone; unaccompanied by anything else; as, a bare majority. "The bare necessaries of life." Addison.

Nor are men prevailed upon by bare words. South.