barbary

B3A1R1B3A1R1Y4
/ˈbɑː(ɹ)bəɹi/

adjective

barbarian; non-Christian

OriginMiddle English barbarye ← Old French [Term?] ← Medieval Latin [Term?] →
Less commonScrabble 14
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Meanings

barbary1

adjective
  1. obsoletebarbarian; non-Christian

Barbary2

proper noun

alternative obsolete Barbarie

  1. historicalThe Mediterranean coastal areas of North Africa that were used as a base by pirates in the 16th to 19th centuries.

    [King of] Moro[cco]. Ye Moores and valiant men of Barbary, How can ye ſuffer theſe indignities?

    c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene iii
    1 more example

    Have all his ventures fail'd? What! not one hit? From Tripolis, from Mexico, and England; From Lisbon, Barbary, and India?

    c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

Origin

barbary · adjective

  1. Medieval Latin[Term?]
  2. Old French[Term?]
  3. Middle Englishbarbarye“barbarian, non-Christian”
  4. Englishbarbary

From Middle English barbarye (“barbarian, non-Christian”), from Old French [Term?] and Medieval Latin [Term?].

More words from Middle English, Old French, Medieval Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Barbary · proper noun

From Berber + -y, influenced by barbary (“barbarian, non-Christian”). See also Arabic بَرْبَرِيّ (barbariyy, “Berber”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch Barbarije
  • BarbarijeMediterranean North Africa
Finnish Berberia
  • BerberiaMediterranean North Africa
French Berbérie
  • BerbérieMediterranean North Africa
German Berberei, Barbareskenstaaten
  • BerbereiMediterranean North Africa
  • BarbareskenstaatenMediterranean North Africa
Greek Μπαρμπαριά
  • Μπαρμπαριά (Barmpariá)Mediterranean North Africa
Irish An Bharbair
  • An BharbairMediterranean North Africa
Latin Barbarīa
  • BarbarīaMediterranean North Africa
Polish Berberia
  • BerberiaMediterranean North Africa
Portuguese Berbéria, Berberia
  • BerbériaMediterranean North Africa
  • BerberiaMediterranean North Africa
Spanish Berbería
  • BerberíaMediterranean North Africa
Cite this entry
APA

barbary. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barbary

MLA

“barbary.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barbary. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “barbary,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barbary.

Source: barbary on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.