barneys

Noun

barney (plural barneys)

1. (UK, obsolete, slang) A lark, a romp, some fun.
2. (UK, obsolete, slang) A hoax, a humbug, something that is not genuine, a rigged or unfair sporting contest.
   • "Just keep it i' thy mind," entreated the other, as a sort of parting remembrance, "ut I won thee i' fair powell—one toss an' no barney.[…]"1865, Benjamin Brierley, Irkdale, volume 2, page 19
3. (obsolete, Harvard University slang) A poor recitation.
4. (Australia, UK, slang) A noisy argument.
   • Gary and Mum went mental, and Gary phoned them up and had a right Barney with them.2007, Dave Brooks, For Nil Consideration, page 230
5. (Australia, UK, slang) A minor physical fight.
   • I got stuck in the middle of a real barney between a couple of tough coppers and a handful of hairy protesters, and I didn't enjoy it one single bit.1982, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Corridors of Death, page 157
6. (Boston, US, dialectal) A student at Harvard University.
   • There goes that fuckin' Barney right now, with his fuckin' "skiin' trip." We should'a kicked that dude's ass.1997, Damon, Matt; Affleck, Ben, Good Will Hunting, spoken by Morgan O'Mally (Casey Affleck)

See all 23 meanings of barney