barker

n. a person who stands outside a show or shop and shouts to attract customers.

n. a person employed to solicit customers by calling out to passersby, typically at a carnival, circus, or storefront.

“The barker outside the tent promised that we would see the most amazing show on earth.”

“The carnival barker used a rhythmic, high-energy chant to draw the skeptical crowd toward the main attraction.”

n. a dog or other animal that barks a lot.

n. an animal, typically a dog, characterized by frequent or loud barking.

“Our new neighbor has a small dog that is a constant barker.”

“The shelter staff noted that the terrier was a persistent barker whenever strangers approached the kennel.”

n. a machine used in factories to strip the outer layer off logs.

n. a mechanical device used in the timber or paper industry to remove bark from logs.

“The logs are passed through a mechanical barker before they are cut into boards.”

“The sawmill upgraded to a high-speed hydraulic barker to improve the efficiency of the initial processing stage.”

Technical

n. an old word for a gun or pistol.

n. a slang term for a pistol or firearm, referencing the sharp sound of its discharge.

“In the old detective movie, the gangster reached for the barker in his pocket.”

“The protagonist in the Victorian crime novel was warned never to leave his lodgings without his trusty barker.”

Slang · Archaic