barbary Definition
- 1a region of North Africa that includes the countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya
- 2a type of sheep with long, coarse wool that is raised in North Africa
Phrases with barbary
a historical area of San Francisco, California, known for its gambling, prostitution, and crime during the mid-1800s
Example
The Barbary Coast was a notorious part of San Francisco's history.
Example
The Barbary macaque is the only species of macaque that lives outside of Asia.
Barbary pirates
pirates who operated from North Africa in the 16th-19th centuries, known for capturing ships and enslaving their crews
Example
The Barbary pirates were a major threat to shipping in the Mediterranean during the Age of Sail.
Summary: barbary in Brief
'Barbary' [ˈbɑːbəri] refers to a region of North Africa that includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, as well as a type of sheep with long, coarse wool that is raised in North Africa. The term also appears in phrases like 'Barbary Coast,' which refers to a historical area of San Francisco known for its gambling, prostitution, and crime, and 'Barbary pirates,' who were pirates operating from North Africa in the 16th-19th centuries.