barracks
barracks Lexical Profile
barracks Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A building or group of buildings used to house military personnel, police officers, or other disciplined groups.
"The recruits returned to their barracks after completing the morning training exercises."
A large, plain, or austere building used to house workers or other large groups of people temporarily.
"Seasonal agricultural laborers were housed in wooden barracks near the orchards."
• verb
To lodge or quarter soldiers or other personnel in a barracks (third-person singular simple present of barrack).
"The regiment barracks its newly arrived trainees in the northern compound during winter."
British To jeer, heckle, or shout loudly at players or speakers (also used in Australian English with 'for' to mean to cheer for a team; third-person singular simple present of barrack).
"Every weekend, he enthusiastically barracks for his local football club from the stands."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although plural in form, 'barracks' is treated as either a singular or plural noun in construction (e.g., 'a barracks was built' or 'several barracks were inspected'). The singular form 'barrack' is primarily used as a verb or when referring to a single hut.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 17th century from French 'baraque', from Italian 'baracca' or Spanish 'barraca' (meaning a soldier's tent or mud hut), possibly of pre-Roman Celtic or Iberian origin.