barleycorn

[ bahr-lee-kawrn ]

/ ˈbɑr liˌkɔrn /

barley¹(def 1).

a grain of barley.

a unit of length equal to 1/3 inch (8.5 mm).

Also barley corn. a type of basket weave that produces an allover geometric pattern.

Origin of barleycorn

1375–1425; late Middle English. See barley¹, corn¹

Barleycorn

[ bahr-lee-kawrn ]

/ ˈbɑr liˌkɔrn /

John. John Barleycorn.

The histology of the barleycorn is best studied by the examination of sections under the microscope.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 4 |Various
This belief also associates itself with Barleycorn's second coming; so that the two events become identified at last.

Preface to Androcles and the Lion |George Bernard Shaw
Barleycorn, John, the exhilarating spirit distilled from barley personified.

The Nuttall Encyclopaedia |Edited by Rev. James Wood
Few of them bore the somatic signs of intimacy with Mr. Barleycorn.

Idling in Italy |Joseph Collins

"Thank you," said the woman; and she gave the fairy twelve shillings, which was the price of the barleycorn.

Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales |Hans Christian Andersen

barleycorn

/ (ˈbɑːlɪˌkɔːn) /

a grain of barley, or barley itself

an obsolete unit of length equal to one third of an inch