(n.) A piece of wood, metal, or other material, long in proportion
to its breadth or thickness, used as a lever and for various other
purposes, but especially for a hindrance, obstruction, or fastening;
as, the bars of a fence or gate; the bar of a door.
(n.) An indefinite quantity of some substance, so shaped as to be
long in proportion to its breadth and thickness; as, a bar of gold or
of lead; a bar of soap.
(n.) Anything which obstructs, hinders, or prevents; an
obstruction; a barrier.
(n.) A bank of sand, gravel, or other matter, esp. at the mouth of
a river or harbor, obstructing navigation.
(n.) Any railing that divides a room, or office, or hall of
assembly, in order to reserve a space for those having special
privileges; as, the bar of the House of Commons.
(n.) The railing that incloses the place which counsel occupy in
courts of justice. Hence, the phrase at the bar of the court signifies
in open court.
(n.) The place in court where prisoners are stationed for
arraignment, trial, or sentence.
(n.) The whole body of lawyers licensed in a court or district; the
legal profession.
(n.) A special plea constituting a sufficient answer to plaintiff's
action.
(n.) Any tribunal; as, the bar of public opinion; the bar of God.
(n.) A barrier or counter, over which liquors and food are passed
to customers; hence, the portion of the room behind the counter where
liquors for sale are kept.
(n.) An ordinary, like a fess but narrower, occupying only one
fifth part of the field.
(n.) A broad shaft, or band, or stripe; as, a bar of light; a bar
of color.
(n.) A vertical line across the staff. Bars divide the staff into
spaces which represent measures, and are themselves called measures.
(n.) The space between the tusks and grinders in the upper jaw of a
horse, in which the bit is placed.
(n.) The part of the crust of a horse's hoof which is bent inwards
towards the frog at the heel on each side, and extends into the center
of the sole.
(n.) A drilling or tamping rod.
(n.) A vein or dike crossing a lode.
(n.) A gatehouse of a castle or fortified town.
(n.) A slender strip of wood which divides and supports the glass
of a window; a sash bar.
(n.) To fasten with a bar; as, to bar a door or gate.
(n.) To restrict or confine, as if by a bar; to hinder; to
obstruct; to prevent; to prohibit; as, to bar the entrance of evil;
distance bars our intercourse; the statute bars my right; the right is
barred by time; a release bars the plaintiff's recovery; -- sometimes
with up.
(n.) To except; to exclude by exception.
(n.) To cross with one or more stripes or lines.
