Also 4 berkere, 5 -ar. [f. BARK v.1 + -ER1.]
1. One who or that which barks; a dog.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. X. 260. Thyne berkeres ben al blynde.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 32. Berkar, as a dogge, latrator.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, II. 276. Monster gods of every creed, Barker Anubis, too, ’gainst Neptune … ranged.
2. fig. A noisy assailant; also, an auction-room or shop tout.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 273/4. Whiche sometyme had ben a barker, bytter and blynde, ayenst the lettres.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 81 b. Neither Jerome Osorius nor any other braulyng barker can … molest him.
1617. Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, Ep. Ded. 8. The aduersaries and barkers against Soueraignty.
1822. Hazlitt, Men & Mann., Ser. II. xi. (1869), 232. As shopmen and barkers tease you to buy goods.
1862. Helps, Organiz. Daily Life, 123. A review which I delight in … because it always barks on the other side to the great barker.
3. The Spotted Redshank (Totanus fuscus).
1802. G. Montagu, Ornith. Dict., 21 [In Leicestershire.]
4. slang. A pistol; occas. a cannon.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxxiii. They are never without barkers and slashers.
1842. F. Cooper, Jack o’ Lantern, I. 151. Four more carronades, with two barkers for’ard.
