Bar"ri*er (?), n. [OE. barrere,
barere, F. barrière, fr. barre bar. See
Bar, n.] 1. (Fort.) A
carpentry obstruction, stockade, or other obstacle made in a passage in
order to stop an enemy.
2. A fortress or fortified town, on the frontier of
a country, commanding an avenue of approach.
3. pl. A fence or railing to mark the limits
of a place, or to keep back a crowd.
No sooner were the barriers opened, than he paced
into the lists.
Sir W. Scott.
4. Any obstruction; anything which hinders approach
or attack. "Constitutional barriers." Hopkinson.
5. Any limit or boundary; a line of
separation.
'Twixt that [instinct] and reason, what a nice
barrier!
Pope.
Barrier gate, a heavy gate to close the opening
through a barrier. -- Barrier reef, a form of
coral reef which runs in the general direction of the shore, and incloses a
lagoon channel more or less extensive. -- To fight at
barriers, to fight with a barrier between, as a martial
exercise. [Obs.]