barley

From Middle English barly, barli, from Old English bærlīċ (“barley-like”, adjective) (later referring to barley itself and grain crops of similar appearance), from bere (“barley”) (compare Scots bere (“six-rowed barley”)), from Proto-Germanic *baraz (compare Old Norse barr), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰers- (“spike, prickle”). Equivalent to bere +‎ -ly. See English brew.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbɑɹli/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbɑːli/

• Audio (US):

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• Homophone: Bali (non-rhotic)
• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)li

barley (usually uncountable, plural barleys)

2. A cereal of the species Hordeum vulgare, or its grains, often used as food or to make beer and other malted drinks.
3. (Singapore) The seed of Job's tears. (Coix lacryma-jobi)

• (grain crop): grain, cereal

• barley on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Hordeum vulgare on Wikispecies.Wikispecies

• Braley, barely, bearly, bleary

Probably a corruption of French parlez.

barley

1. A cry for truce in children's games.