Barbary
pronunciation
How to pronounce Barbary in British English:
UK [ˈbɑ:bəri]
How to pronounce Barbary in American English:
US [ˈbɑrbəri, -bri]
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- Noun:
- a region of northern Africa on the Mediterranean coast between Egypt and Gibraltar; was used as a base for pirates from the 16th to 19th centuries
Word Origin
- Barbary
- c. 1300, "foreign lands" (especially non-Christian lands), from Latin barbaria (see barbarian). Meaning "Saracens living in coastal North Africa" is attested from 1590s, via French (Old French barbarie), from Arabic Barbar, Berber, ancient Arabic name for the inhabitants of North Africa beyond Egypt. Perhaps a native name, perhaps an Arabic word, from barbara "to babble confusedly," but this might be ultimately from Greek barbaria. "The actual relations (if any) of the Arabic and Gr[eek] words cannot be settled; but in European langs. barbaria, Barbarie, Barbary, have from the first been treated as identical with L. barbaria, Byzantine Gr[eek] barbaria land of barbarians" [OED].
Example
- 1. A group of south africans endured months of saharan treks and stiff diplomacy to claim the near-mythic barbary ostrich from french west africa .
- 2. The protection of higher standards of governance and regulation in developed markets mitigates political , legal and regulatory risk in emerging markets , ms barbary said .
- 3. One of the most fascinating stories is that of the trans-saharan ostrich expedition in 1911 . A group of south africans endured months of saharan treks and stiff diplomacy to claim the near-mythic barbary ostrich from french west africa .