释义 |
▪ I. ˈbarney, n. 1. In various dial. and slang uses. a. A lark or spree.
1859Hotten Slang Dict. 3 Barney, a lark, spree, rough enjoyment; ‘get up a barney’, to have a lark. Barney, a mob, a crowd. b. Humbug, cheating; spec. an unfair sporting contest.
1865B. Brierley Irkdale II. 19, I won thee i' fair powell one toss an' no barney. 1882Even. News 2 Sept. 1/6 Blackguardly barneys called Boxing Competitions. 1885Bell's Life 3 Jan. 3/4 Few genuine matches have taken place this season,..though exhibitions and barney contests have been plentiful. c. A noisy dispute or altercation. Also Austral. and N.Z.
1864C. R. Thatcher Colonial Songster 86 A barney first commenced, in one of their Celestial revels. 1885in Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. (1886) 45 I'll warn't there'll be a barney over thick job. 1888‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms II. xiii. 216 We had long talks and barneys over the whole thing. 1895Daily News 4 Jan. 3/7 (E.D.D.), Selby runs out, and goes to get another knife, but I stops him, and the barney was all over. 1916Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Feb. 48/4 We did 'ave a bit of a barney. She tole me I'd better be goin'. 1929J. B. Priestley Good Companions i. iv. 112 He has a bit of a barney with the other two partners, decides to have a split. 1958Encounter May 12/2 There was a right barney at the other end of the shop. 1958D. Niland Call me when Cross turns over 200 There should never have been a barney between them in the first place. 1959Spectator 29 May 752/3 That a team will go forward without Maori players..is the only positive conclusion that can be drawn from the barney. 1964J. Burke Hard Day's Night i. 20 ‘If you're going to have a barney,’ said John, ‘I'll hold your coats.’ 2. Mining. (See quot.)
1881Raymond Mining Gloss., Barney, a small car attached to a rope and used to push cars up a slope or inclined plane. 3. Phr. Barney's bull, a worthless person or thing. Also Austral. (see quot. 1945).
1908Masefield Capt. Margaret iv. 98 Your trading lay..is all Barney's bull. It's got more bugs than brains, as you might say. 1929― Hawbucks 76 Those girls, without any mother, only that old Barney's bull of a da. 1945Baker Austral. Lang. iv. 88 All behind like Barney's bull, delayed, backward (a play on the word behind, although the expression is probably as alliterative as it is biological). ▪ II. barney, v.|ˈbɑːnɪ| [f. prec.] 1. intr. To argue, dispute. dial., Austral. and N.Z.
1880Evening Post (N.Z.) 7 Jan. 13/2 He saw the prisoner and prosecutor ‘barneying’ in the middle of some strangers. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer II. xvi. 42 If you go barneying about calves..he'll best ye. 1913A. Bathgate Sodger Sandy's Bairn x. 77 But I can't barney with you all day. 2. To act or play unfairly; to cheat.
1905Daily Chron. 17 Aug. 4/4 The thirst for money prizes and the gambling craze has brought in ‘barneying’ and the buying and selling of falls in professional [wrestling] rings. 1908Westmorld. Gaz. 22 Aug. 8/3 Heavyweight wrestling..Third round..T. T. and G. M. were both blown out for barneying. |