barney

See also: Barney

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: bäʹni, IPA^(key): /ˈbɑːni/
• (General American) enPR: bäɹʹni, IPA^(key): /ˈbɑɹni/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (General Australian):

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• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)ni

Etymology 1

Etymology unknown. Often incorrectly thought to be Cockney rhyming slang from Barney Rubble (“trouble”, from the character Barney Rubble on The Flintstones), it actually dates back to the 19th century and its origin is unknown.

Noun

barney (plural barneys)

1. (obsolete, UK, slang) A lark, a romp, some fun.
2. (obsolete, UK, slang) A hoax, a humbug, something that is not genuine, a rigged or unfair sporting contest.
   • 1865, Benjamin Brierley, Irkdale‎^[1], volume 2, page 19:

     "Just keep it i' thy mind," entreated the other, as a sort of parting remembrance, "ut I won thee i' fair powell—one toss an' no barney. […] "

   • 1882 September 2, Evening News, column 6, page 1:

     Blackguardly barneys called boxing competitions.

   • 1884 April 13, The Referee, column 4, page 7:

     Who would believe that Mr. Gladstone shammed being ill, and that Sir Andrew Clark issued false bulletins, and that the whole thing was a barney from beginning to end.

3. (obsolete, Harvard University slang) A poor recitation. [c. 1810]
4. (UK, Australia, slang) A noisy argument.
   • 2007, Dave Brooks, For Nil Consideration‎^[2], page 230:

     Gary and Mum went mental, and Gary phoned them up and had a right Barney with them.

   • 2009, Neville Conway, An Ornament to His Profession‎^[3], page 45:

     ‘They had a right barney,’ Dexter said with glee, between mouthfuls. ‘Bloke wouldn′t go. Said he′d write to his MP.’

   • 2010, Michael White, The Art of Murder‎^[4], unnumbered page:

     ‘ […] I bet there was a right barney over her wearing a dress that exposed the rose tattoo!’ Turner concluded with a laugh.

5. (UK, Australia, slang) A minor physical fight.
   • 1982, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Corridors of Death‎^[5], page 157:

     I got stuck in the middle of a real barney between a couple of tough coppers and a handful of hairy protesters, and I didn't enjoy it one single bit.

   • 2010, Katie Flynn, The Liverpool Rose‎^[6], page 200:

     But he doesn't seem to be so — so angry all the time, and it's ages since he and Aunt Annie had a real barney, with flying fists and screechings, that sort of thing.

   • 2011, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Killing Time‎^[7]:

     ‘I heard this crash, like the door was being kicked in, and then a load of shoutin′ an′ crashin′ about, like someone was havin' a real barney.’

6. (US dialect, Boston) A student at Harvard University.
   • 1997, Damon, Matt, Affleck, Ben, Good Will Hunting, spoken by Morgan O'Mally (Casey Affleck):

     There goes that fuckin' Barney right now, with his fuckin' "skiin' trip." We should'a kicked that dude's ass.

7. (film, television) Synonym of blimp (“soundproof cover for a video camera”)
   • 2015, Peter W. Rea, David K. Irving, Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, page 209:

     You can create your own blimp or barney with anything that will deaden the camera noise, such as a changing bag, foam rubber, […]

Adjective

barney (comparative more barney, superlative most barney)

1. (obsolete, UK, slang) insane crazy, loony.

Synonyms

• (noisy argument): quarrel, row, or see Thesaurus:dispute
• (fight): fisticuffs, scuffle, or see Thesaurus:fight

Verb

barney (third-person singular simple present barneys, present participle barneying, simple past and past participle barneyed)

1. (obsolete, Harvard University slang) To recite badly; to fail. [c. 1810]
   • 1947, Samuel Hopkins Adams, Banner by the Wayside:

     What avails it to make a shine in Greek if the next hour one does a barney in calculus.

2. (UK, Australia) To argue, to quarrel.

Synonyms

• (argue): bicker, have a barney, row, squabble, or see Thesaurus:squabble

References

• Hall, Benjamin Homer (1851) A Collection of College Words and Customs‎^[8], page 15
• Albert Barrère and Charles G[odfrey] Leland, compilers and editors (1889–1890) “barney”, in A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant […], volume I (A–K), Edinburgh: […] The Ballantyne Press, →OCLC, pages 81–82.
• John S[tephen] Farmer, compiler (1890) “barney”, in Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present. […], volume I, [London: […] Thomas Poulter and Sons] […], →OCLC, page 129.

Etymology 2

From the character Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show.

Noun

barney (plural barneys)

1. (US, pejorative slang) A police officer, usually one who is inferior or overzealous.
   • 2005 March 3, “Scott Peterson's sister speaks out”, in MSNBC‎^[9]:

     She called the town Mayberry. She said Barney Fife was in charge.

Synonyms

• (police officer): fed, pig, or see Thesaurus:police officer

Anagrams

• brayne, nearby

Fingallian

Etymology

Cognate with English barney (“noisy argument”).

Noun

barney

1. quarrel, row
   • A NORTH-COUNTY DUBLIN CLOSSARY:

     There was a bit of a barney between them.

References

• J. J. Hogan and Patrick C. O'Neill (1947) Béaloideas Iml. 17, Uimh 1/2, An Cumann Le Béaloideas Eireann/Folklore of lreland Society, page 263