Barbary

See also: barbary

English

Alternative forms

• Barbarie (obsolete)

Etymology

From Berber, influenced by barbary (“barbarian, non-Christian”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɑː(ɹ)bəɹi/

Proper noun

Barbary

1. (historical) The Mediterranean coastal areas of North Africa that were used as a base by pirates in the 16th to 19th centuries.
   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene iii:

     [King of] Moro[cco]. Ye Moores and valiant men of Barbary,
     How can ye ſuffer theſe indignities?

   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

     Have all his ventures fail'd? What! not one hit?
     From Tripolis, from Mexico, and England;
     From Lisbon, Barbary, and India?

Derived terms

• Barbary duck
• Barbary sheep
• jealous as a Barbary pigeon

 

Translations

Mediterranean North Africa

• Dutch: Barbarije f
• Finnish: Berberia (fi)
• French: Berbérie f
• German: Berberei f, Barbareskenstaaten m or pl
• Greek: Μπαρμπαριά (el) f (Barmpariá)
• Irish: An Bharbair f
• Latin: please add this translation if you can
• Manx: Yn Varbeyr f
• Polish: Berberia (pl) f
• Portuguese: Berbéria f, Berberia (pt) f
• Spanish: Berbería (es) f