name
Barbary
BAH-buh-ree
Barbary (name) means a historical name for the coastal regions of North Africa, once notorious as a base for pirates. Example: “The novel is set among pirates raiding ships from the Barbary Coast.”
name
1
A historical name for the coastal regions of North Africa, once notorious as a base for pirates.
"The novel is set among pirates raiding ships from the Barbary Coast."
How to use Barbary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe historical name for North Africa's coast, especially famous for the Barbary pirates.
Common pairings
Barbary Coast
Barbary pirates
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The novel is set among pirates raiding ships from the _____ Coast.
Etymology
From "Berber" plus the suffix "-y," likely influenced by the older adjective barbary meaning "barbarian, non-Christian."
Rhymes for Barbary
See all rhymes for Barbary →Frequently asked questions
What does “Barbary” mean?
The word “Barbary” means a historical name for the coastal regions of North Africa, once notorious as a base for pirates. In plain terms, the historical name for North Africa's coast, especially famous for the Barbary pirates.
How do you pronounce “Barbary”?
“Barbary” is pronounced BAH-buh-ree (/ˈbɑː(ɹ)bəɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “Barbary” in a sentence?
Here is “Barbary” used in a sentence: “The novel is set among pirates raiding ships from the Barbary Coast.”
What part of speech is “Barbary”?
“Barbary” is a name.
Where does the word “Barbary” come from?
The word “Barbary” comes from Berber. From "Berber" plus the suffix "-y," likely influenced by the older adjective barbary meaning "barbarian, non-Christian.".
