barlow

A farmer uses a barlow to cut a piece of rope in his barn.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of knife: "barlow" refers to a large single-bladed jackknife, typically featuring a distinctive brass lining and a curved handle. This term is especially common in American English, often shortened from "barlow knife."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He carried a barlow in his pocket for whittling wood. (A large single-bladed pocketknife used for carving.)
  • The old man opened his barlow to cut the rope. (He used the knife to sever the cord.)

Advanced Usage

• "barlow knife": the full, more formal term for the same object.
  • The barlow knife was a popular tool among frontiersmen. (The single-bladed jackknife was common in rural America.)

Variants and Related Words

• Barlow (n): used alone as a shorter, colloquial form of "barlow knife."
  • My grandfather gave me his old barlow. (His large single-bladed pocketknife.)

Synonyms

• Jackknife: a folding pocketknife.
• Pocketknife: a small knife with folding blades that fits in a pocket.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs associated with "barlow" in standard English.

Additional Notes

• The term "barlow" is historically tied to the Barlow knife, a design originating in England but popularized in the United States during the 19th century. It is often associated with rural life and practical use.