Bar

subs. (old gaming: various).—See quots.

  1545.  ASCHAM, Toxophilus [ARBER], 55. Certayne termes … appropriate to theyr playing; whereby they wyl drawe a mannes money, but paye none whiche they cal BARRES.

  1592.  Nobody and Somebody, 4to, G. 3. Those Demi-BARS … Those BAR Sizeaces.

  1753.  CHAMBERS, Cyclopædia, Supplement. BARR Dice, a species of false dice, so formed that they will not easily lie on certain sides.

  Verb. and prep. (of respectable lineage, but now more or less colloquial).—1.  Except, excluding, save, but for: mostly used in racing, e.g., Four to one bar one, Four to one on the field; that is, on all the horses entered excepting only the favourite. As verb (2), to exclude from consideration, take exception to.

  1598.  SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice, ii. 2. 207. Nay, but I BAR to-night: you shall not gauge me by what we do to-night.

  1611.  BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Philaster, ii. 25. Good Prince, be not bawdy, nor do not brag; these two I BAR.

  1648.  HERRICK, Hesperides, I. 223. When next thou do’st invite, BARRE state, And give me meate.

  1672.  WYCHERLEY, Love in a Wood [Works (1712), III. 382]. That were as hard as to BAR a young parson in the pulpit, the fifth of November,—railing at the Church of Rome.

  1697.  VANBRUGH, Æsop, ii. What I have in my mind, out it comes: but BAR that; I’se an honest lad as well as another.

  1714.  MANDEVILLE, Fab. Bees (1725), I, 306. Charity boys … that swear and curse … and, BAR the cloaths, are as much blackguard as ever Towerhill … produc’d.

  1718.  Freethinker, 95. 287. I once more BAR all Widowers.

  1727.  SWIFT, To Sheridan [Works (1745), viii. 348]. I intended to be with you at Michaelmas, BAR impossibilities.

  1752.  FOOTE, Taste, ii. BARRING the nose, Roubillac could cut as good a head every whit.

  1808.  WOLCOT (‘Peter Pindar’), Works, V. (1812), 355.

  1809.  SYDNEY SMITH, Works (1859), I. 176. i. We BAR in this discussion, any objection which proceeds….

  1818.  SCOTT, Rob Roy, iii. ‘I should like to try that daisy-cutter … upon a … level road (BARRING canter) for a quart … at the next inn.’

  1836.  DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, lv. ‘I’ll bet you ten guineas to five, he cuts his throat,’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. ‘Done,’ replied Mr. Simmery. ‘Stop! I BAR,’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, thoughtfully, ‘Perhaps he may hang himself.’

  1870.  Standard, 14 Dec. This sortie, BAR miracles, has decided the fate of Paris.

  3.  (American thieves’).—To stop; to cease. Obviously an attributive meaning of the legitimate word.

  4.  (American).—To frequent drinking-bars; to tipple. TO BAR TOO MUCH, to get drunk: see SCREWED.