A piece of wood, metal, or other material, long in proportion to its breadth or thickness, used as a lever and for various other purposes, but especially for a hindrance, obstruction, or fastening; as, the bars of a fence or gate; the bar of a door.
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An indefinite quantity of some substance, so shaped as to be long in proportion to its breadth and thickness; as, a bar of gold or of lead; a bar of soap.
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Anything which obstructs, hinders, or prevents; an obstruction; a barrier.
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A bank of sand, gravel, or other matter, esp. at the mouth of a river or harbor, obstructing navigation.
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Any railing that divides a room, or office, or hall of assembly, in order to reserve a space for those having special privileges; as, the bar of the House of Commons.
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The railing that incloses the place which counsel occupy in courts of justice. Hence, the phrase at the bar of the court signifies in open court.
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The place in court where prisoners are stationed for arraignment, trial, or sentence.
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The whole body of lawyers licensed in a court or district; the legal profession.
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A special plea constituting a sufficient answer to plaintiff's action.
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Any tribunal; as, the bar of public opinion; the bar of God.
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A barrier or counter, over which liquors and food are passed to customers; hence, the portion of the room behind the counter where liquors for sale are kept.
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An ordinary, like a fess but narrower, occupying only one fifth part of the field.
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A broad shaft, or band, or stripe; as, a bar of light; a bar of color.
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A vertical line across the staff. Bars divide the staff into spaces which represent measures, and are themselves called measures.
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The space between the tusks and grinders in the upper jaw of a horse, in which the bit is placed.
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The part of the crust of a horse's hoof which is bent inwards towards the frog at the heel on each side, and extends into the center of the sole.
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A drilling or tamping rod.
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A vein or dike crossing a lode.
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A gatehouse of a castle or fortified town.
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A slender strip of wood which divides and supports the glass of a window; a sash bar.
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To fasten with a bar; as, to bar a door or gate.
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To restrict or confine, as if by a bar; to hinder; to obstruct; to prevent; to prohibit; as, to bar the entrance of evil; distance bars our intercourse; the statute bars my right; the right is barred by time; a release bars the plaintiff's recovery; -- sometimes with up.