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baron

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baron

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Baron  \Bar"on\,  n.  [OE.  baron,  barun,  OF  baron,  accus.  of  ber, 
  F.  baron,  prob.  fr  OHG.  baro  (not  found)  bearer,  akin  to  E. 
  bear  to  support;  cf  O.  Frisian  bere,  LL  baro,  It  barone, 
  Sp  varon.  From  the  meaning  bearer  (of  burdens)  seem  to  have 
  come  the  senses  strong  man,  man  (in  distinction  from  woman), 
  which  is  the  oldest  meaning  in  French,  and  lastly,  nobleman. 
  Cf  L.  baro,  simpleton.  See  {Bear}  to  support.] 
  1.  A  title  or  degree  of  nobility;  originally,  the  possessor 
  of  a  fief,  who  had  feudal  tenants  under  him  in  modern 
  times,  in  France  and  Germany,  a  nobleman  next  in  rank 
  below  a  count  in  England,  a  nobleman  of  the  lowest  grade 
  in  the  House  of  Lords,  being  next  below  a  viscount. 
 
  Note:  ``The  tenants  in  chief  from  the  Crown,  who  held  lands 
  of  the  annual  value  of  four  hundred  pounds,  were  styled 
  Barons;  and  it  is  to  them  and  not  to  the  members  of 
  the  lowest  grade  of  the  nobility  (to  whom  the  title  at 
  the  present  time  belongs),  that  reference  is  made  when 
  we  read  of  the  Barons  of  the  early  days  of  England's 
  history  .  .  .  .  Barons  are  addressed  as  'My  Lord,'  and 
  are  styled  'Right  Honorable.'  All  their  sons  and 
  daughters  'Honorable.'''  --Cussans. 
 
  2.  (Old  Law)  A  husband;  as  baron  and  feme,  husband  and  wife. 
  [R.]  --Cowell. 
 
  {Baron  of  beef},  two  sirloins  not  cut  asunder  at  the 
  backbone. 
 
  {Barons  of  the  Cinque  Ports},  formerly  members  of  the  House 
  of  Commons,  elected  by  the  seven  Cinque  Ports,  two  for 
  each  port. 
 
  {Baron  of  the  exchequer},  the  judges  of  the  Court  of 
  Exchequer,  one  of  the  three  ancient  courts  of  England,  now 
  abolished. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  baron 
  n  1:  a  nobleman  (in  various  countries)  of  varying  rank 
  2:  a  British  peer  of  the  lowest  rank 
  3:  a  very  wealthy  or  powerful  businessman:  "an  oil  baron"  [syn: 
  {big  businessman},  {business  leader},  {king},  {magnate}, 
  {mogul},  {power},  {top  executive},  {tycoon}]




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