john barleycorn

2 definitions found

john barleycorn - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Barleycorn \Bar"ley*corn`\, n. [See Corn.]
     1. A grain or "corn" of barley.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Formerly, a measure of length, equal to the average length
        of a grain of barley; the third part of an inch.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     John Barleycorn, a humorous personification of barley as
        the source of malt liquor or whisky.
        [1913 Webster]

john barleycorn - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  John Barleycorn
      n 1: an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than
           fermented [syn: liquor, spirits, booze, hard drink,
           hard liquor, John Barleycorn, strong drink]