baron

Meaning

Noun

• The male ruler of a barony.
• A male member of the lowest rank of English nobility (the equivalent rank in Scotland is lord).
• A person of great power in society, especially in business and politics.
• A prisoner who gains power and influence by lending or selling tobacco.
• A baron of beef, a cut made up of a double sirloin.
• Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Euthalia (genus).
• A husband.

Origin

• From Middle English baroun, from Old French baron, Medieval Latin barō, from Frankish *barō, perhaps from Proto-Germanic *barô, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-. Cognate with Old High German baro, and perhaps to Old English beorn. Used in early Germanic law in the sense of "man, human being".
• A Celtic origin has also been suggested, due to the occurrence of a Latin barones ("military official") as early as the first century (Cornutus, On Persius' Fifth Satire). However, the OED takes this hypothetical Proto-Celtic *bar- ("hero") to be a figment.