Name of a British island in the West Indies, believed to be derived from Pg. las barbadas ‘bearded,’ epithet applied by the Portuguese to the Indian fig-trees growing there; whence formerly ‘the Barbadoes.’ Hence: Barbadoes-cherry, the tart fruit, resembling a cherry, of the Malpighia urens. Barbadoes leg, a form of elephantiasis incident to hot climates. Barbadoes nuts, the seeds or fruit, used as a purgative, of the Jatropha Curcas, or Curcas purgans, growing in S. America. Barbadoes pride, a beautiful plant (Poinciana pulcherrima) used for fences in tropical lands. Barbadoes tar, a kind of greenish petroleum. Barbadoes-water, a cordial flavored with orange- and lemon-peel. Also † Barbadoes v., to transport (convicts) to Barbadoes (obs.).
1858. W. Ellis, Vis. Madagascar, iv. 95. The greatest rarity to me was a fruit called Barbadoes cherry.
1849. Todd, Cycl. Anat. & Phys., IV. 1097/1. The enlargement of the extremities commonly known by the name of Barbadoes leg.
1885. Lady Brassey, In Trades, 323. Among the flowers may be mentioned … acacias, Barbadoes pride.
1698. Congreve, Way of World, IV. v. I banish … all aniseed, cinnamon, citron and Barbadoes-waters.
1655. W. Gouge, in Thurloe, State Papers (1742), III. 495. The prisoners of the Tower shall, ’tis sayd, be Barbadozz’d.
1845. Carlyle, Cromwell (1871), IV. 115. Be barbadoesed or worse.
