Chapter Barmcloth to Barricade of B by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

days of England's history. . . . Barons are addressed as &lsquoMy Lord,' and are styled &lsquoRight Honorable.' All their sons and daughters are &lsquoHonorable.'" Cussans.

2. (Old Law) A husband; as, baron and feme, husband and wife. [R.] Cowell.

Baron of beef, two sirloins not cut asunder at the backbone. — Barons of the Cinque Ports, formerly members of the House of Commons, elected by the seven Cinque Ports, two for each port. — Barons of the exchequer, the judges of the Court of Exchequer, one of the three ancient courts of England, now abolished.

Baronage
(Bar"on*age) n. [OE. barnage, baronage, OF. barnage, F. baronnage; cf. LL. baronagium.]

1. The whole body of barons or peers.

The baronage of the kingdom.
Bp. Burnet.

2. The dignity or rank of a baron.

3. The land which gives title to a baron. [Obs.]

Baroness
(Bar"on*ess) n. A baron's wife; also, a lady who holds the baronial title in her own right; as, the Baroness Burdett-Coutts.

Baronet
(Bar"on*et) n. [Baron + - et.] A dignity or degree of honor next below a baron and above a knight, having precedency of all orders of knights except those of the Garter. It is the lowest degree of honor that is hereditary. The baronets are commoners.

The order was founded by James I. in 1611, and is given by patent. The word, however, in the sense of a lesser baron, was in use long before. "Baronets have the title of 'Sir' prefixed to their Christian names; their surnames being followed by their dignity, usually abbreviated Bart. Their wives are addressed as 'Lady' or 'Madam'. Their sons are possessed of no title beyond 'Esquire.'" Cussans.

Baronetage
(Bar"on*et*age) n.

1. State or rank of a baronet.

2. The collective body of baronets.

Baronetcy
(Bar"on*et*cy) n. The rank or patent of a baronet.

Baronial
(Ba*ro"ni*al) a. Pertaining to a baron or a barony. "Baronial tenure." Hallam.

Barony
(Bar"o*ny) n.; pl. Baronies [OF. baronie, F. baronnie, LL. baronia. See Baron.]

1. The fee or domain of a baron; the lordship, dignity, or rank of a baron.

2. In Ireland, a territorial division, corresponding nearly to the English hundred, and supposed to have been originally the district of a native chief. There are 252 of these baronies. In Scotland, an extensive freehold. It may be held by a commoner. Brande & C.

Baroque
(Ba*roque") a. [F.; cf. It. barocco.] (Arch.) In bad taste; grotesque; odd.

Baroscope
(Bar"o*scope) n. baros weight + -scope: cf. F. baroscope.]—> Any instrument showing the changes in the weight of the atmosphere; also, less appropriately, any instrument that indicates or foreshadows changes of the weather, as a deep vial of liquid holding in suspension some substance which rises and falls with atmospheric changes.