in commerce, a round vessel, extending more in length than in breadth, made of wood, in form of a little tun. It serves for holding several sorts of merchandize.

Barrel is also a measure of liquids. The English barrel, wine-measure, contains the eighth part of a tun, the fourth part of a pipe, and one half of a hogshead; that is to say, it contains 31½ gallons; a barrel, beer-measure, contains 36 gallons; and, ale-measure, 32 gallons. The barrel of beer, vinegar, or liquor preparing for vinegar, ought to contain 34 gallons, according to the standard of the ale-quart.

Barrel also denotes a certain weight of several merchandizes, which differs according to the several commodities. A barrel of Essex butter weighs 106 pounds; and of Suffolk butter, 256 pounds. The barrel of herrings ought to contain 32 gallons wine-measure, which amount to about 28 gallons old standard, containing about 1000 herrings. The barrel of salmon must contain 42 gallons; the barrel of eels the same. The barrel of soap must weigh 256 lb.

mechanics, a term given by watchmakers to the cylinder about which the spring is wrapped; and by gun-smiths to the cylindrical tube of a gun, pistol, &c. through which the ball is discharged.

Barret, in anatomy, a pretty large cavity behind the tympanum of the ear, about four or five lines deep, and five or six wide.

Fire Barrels. See Fire-Ship.

Thundering Barrels, in the military art, are filled with bombs, grenades, and other fire-works to be rolled down a breach.

Barrenness, the same with sterility. See Sterility.

Baretry, in law, is the offence of frequently exciting and stirring up suits and quarrels between his Majesty's subjects, either at law or otherwise. The punishment for this offence, in a common person, is by fine and imprisonment; but if the offender (as is too frequently the case) belongs to the profession of the law, a barretor who is thus able as well as willing to do mischief ought also to be disabled from practising for the future. And indeed it is enacted by statute 12 Geo. I. c. 29, that if any one, who hath been convicted of forgery, perjury, subordination of perjury, or common baretry, shall practise as an attorney, solicitor, or agent, in any suit; the court, upon complaint, shall examine it in a summary way; and, if proved, shall direct the offender to be transported for seven years. Hereunto also may be referred another offence, of equal malignity and audaciousness; that of suing another in the name of a fictitious plaintiff, either one not in being at all, or one who is ignorant of the suit. This offence, if committed in any of the king's superior courts, is left, as a high contempt, to be punished at their discretion: but in courts of a lower degree, where the crime is equally pernicious, but the authority of the judges not equally extensive, it is directed by statute 8 Eliz. c. 2, to be punished by six months imprisonment, and treble damages to the party injured.