barnburner

plural barnburners · alternative barn burner · alternative barn-burner

1. One who burns down a barn.
2. New JerseyPennsylvaniaslangMarylandSynonym of phosphorus match, a friction match that can be struck anywhere.

   Synonyms: phosphorus match

3. idiomaticA sensationally exciting or successful event or person.

   Those deathless twin barnburners return to the Metropolitan Opera tonight.

   2007 January 26, The New York Times, “Classical Music/Opera Listings”, in New York Times

   1 more example

   It is hard to know what could convince the barnburners to change their ways. The Maga base rewards them with money and the media lavishes them with airtime.

   2023 October 7, Edward Luce, “The unending Republican revolution”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 6

plural Barnburners

1. UShistoricalslanggovernmentA member of the radical section of the Democratic party in New York, around the middle of the 19th century, which was hostile to extension of slavery, public debts, corporate privileges, etc., and supported Van Buren against Cass for president in 1848.