subs. (American political).—A member of the radical section of the Democratic party (U.S.A.).
c. 1848. New York Tribune [BARTLETT]. This school of Democrats was termed BARNBURNERS, in allusion to the story of an old Dutchman, who relieved himself of rats by burning down his barns which they infested,—just like exterminating all banks and corporations, to root out the abuses connected therewith.
