barrels

bar·rel  (brl)

n.

1. A large cylindrical container, usually made of staves bound together with hoops, with a flat top and bottom of equal diameter.

2. The quantity that a barrel with a given or standard capacity will hold.

3. Abbr. bar. or bbl. or bl. Any of various units of volume or capacity. In the U.S. Customary System it varies, as a liquid measure, from 31 to 42 gallons (120 to 159 liters) as established by law or usage. See Table at measurement.

4. The cylindrical part or hollow shaft of any of various mechanisms, as:

a. The metal, cylindrical part of a firearm through which the bullet travels.

b. A cylinder that contains a movable piston.

c. The drum of a capstan.

d. The cylinder within the mechanism of a timepiece that contains the mainspring.

5. The trunk of a quadruped animal, such as a horse or cow.

6. Informal A large quantity: a barrel of fun.

7. Slang An act or instance of moving rapidly, often recklessly, in a motor vehicle.

adj.

Likened to a barrel, as in shape: a barrel chest; barrel hips.

v. bar·reled or bar·relled, bar·rel·ing or bar·rel·ling, bar·rels

v.tr.

To put or pack in a barrel.

v.intr. Slang

To move at a high speed or rate of progress: "That the European Union barreled ahead was not surprising" (Richard W. Stevenson).

Idioms:

on the barrel/barrelhead

Granting, giving, or requesting no credit: paid cash on the barrel for the car.

over a barrel

In a very awkward position from which extrication is difficult: During the negotiations the opposing faction had us over a barrel.

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[Middle English barel, from Old French baril.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

barrels - the amount that many barrels might hold large indefinite amount, large indefinite quantity - an indefinite quantity that is above the average in size or magnitude