barley-bree

noun

Liquor that is made from barley; strong ale.

Similar
barley-broobarley-broth
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Meanings

nounbarley-bree (uncountable)
  1. ScotlandhumorousobsoleteuncountableLiquor that is made from barley; strong ale.

    When neibors anger at a plea, / An' just as wud as wud can be, / How easy can the barley-bree / Cement the quarrel! / It's aye the cheapest lawyer's fee, / To taste the barrel.

    1785, Robert Burns, Scotch Drink

    Synonyms: barley-broo, barley-broth

Synonyms & antonyms

nounLiquor that is made from barley; strong ale.

Similar
barley-broobarley-broth
Also see
barley-broobarley-broth

Origin

Literally "barley broth". See brew.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

barley-bree. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barley-bree

MLA

“barley-bree.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barley-bree. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “barley-bree,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barley-bree.

Source: barley-bree on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.