barberly

B3A1R1B3E1R1L1Y4

adjective

Resembling or characteristic of a barber.

Scrabble 15

Meanings

adjectivebarberly (comparative more barberly, superlative most barberly)

comparative more barberly · superlative most barberly

  1. rareResembling or characteristic of a barber.

    WARDEN: Paddington Brown. Ten years for Grand Theft... PADDINGTON: Oh, but I never... WARDEN: And Grievous Barberly Harm.

    2017 November 5, Paul King, Simon Farnaby, directed by Paul King, Paddington 2, spoken by Warden Walker (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith)
    4 more examples

    Beneath her sweater one might have caught glimpses of a black-and- white dress, in alternate, barberly stripes which commanded the eye.

    1916, George Weston, “The Girl Who Didn't Care”, in Ladies' Home Journal, volume 33, page 89

    As he tended the 19 knights who lay about him, not only did Gorley have sympathy for their burns and blisters, but his barberly feelings were wounded by their appearance. Gorley could scarcely bear to look: Half a beard was singed away here... a third of a moustache, there... and, in a few cases, whole heads of hair had been singed to ugly stubble.

    1969, Bernard Wiseman, “Sir Nervous Norman's Cold Feat”, in Boys' Life, volume 59, number 12, page 56

    He continued his barberly ministrations. "Those of us who are scheduled to compete in the various competitive classes, you see, can officially get into the convention center and begin assembling our displays at eight tomorrow morning—earlier, if you know what you're doing."

    2007, James Dodson, Beautiful Madness, Penguin Group, →ISBN, page 24

    "I'll take a look at your haircut. Give you a little free barberly advice." Rhodes wasn't sure he wanted any barberly advice, free or not, but since Garrett had helped him out a little, he walked over to where the retired barber stood.

    2016, Bill Crider, Survivors Will Be Shot Again, St. Martin's Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 146
adverbbarberly (comparative more barberly, superlative most barberly)

comparative more barberly · superlative most barberly

  1. rareIn the manner of a barber.

    He was weighted with full cartridge-belt and pistol, and had the appearance of having been out of the saddle but a little while, although he was freshly shaved and barberly perfumed.

    1937, George Washington Ogden, Stockyards Cowboy, Dodd, Mead & Co., page 106
    1 more example

    If sheepe or thy lamb, fall a wrigling with taile, / go by & by searche it, whiles help may preuaile. / That barberlye handled, I dare thee assure: / cast dust in his arse, thou hast finisht thy cure.

    1573, Thomas Tusser, Fiue Hundreth Points of Good Husbandry, Richard Tottel, page 62

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

barberly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barberly

MLA

“barberly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barberly. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “barberly,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barberly.

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