Barrow

There are about 40 000 barrows known in Britain, so they are not normally excavated. You'd think if you had a barrow in your neighbourhood you'd want the archaeologists down there sharpish to find the vast hoards of torques, gold coins, and skeletons of horses you would hope were in there. Or at least to see some incautious student devoured by a barrow-wight.

A place name ending in -howe is likely to indicate a barrow. A place like Nickerhowe is more or less guaranteed to have had a resident wight, at least in the balmy days when wights flourished.

One of the best is at West Kennet in Wiltshire.

Bar"row (?), n. [OE. barow, fr. AS. beran to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Bier.]

1.

A support having handles, and with or without a wheel, on which heavy or bulky things can be transported by hand. See Handbarrow, and Wheelbarrow.

2. Salt Works

A wicker case, in which salt is put to drain.

 

© Webster 1913.

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Bar"row (?), n. [OE. barow, bargh, AS. bearg, bearh; akin to Icel. borgr, OHG. barh, barug, G. barch. 95.]

A hog, esp. a male hog castrated.

Holland.

 

© Webster 1913.

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Bar"row, n. [OE. bergh, AS. beorg, beorh, hill, sepulchral mound; akin to G. berg mountain, Goth. bairgahei hill, hilly country, and perh. to Skr. bhant high, OIr. brigh mountain. Cf. Berg, Berry a mound, and Borough an incorporated town.]

1.

A large mound of earth or stones over the remains of the dead; a tumulus.

2. Mining

A heap of rubbish, attle, etc.

 

© Webster 1913.