only to spectacles with side pieces of coloured glass, and used more as protectors from wind, dust, and glaring light than as aids to the sight. Hence used popularly for all kinds of glasses. The derivation seems uncertain. The principal suggested origins are:—(1) a corruption of binoculis [from Latin bini, double, + oculus, an eye]; (2) an attributive usage of barnacles, which, with 'horse-twitchers' or 'brakes,' are tools put on the nostrils of horses when they will not stand still to be shooed; and in support of this it has been pointed out [N. and Q., 1 S., v., 13] the figure of the barnacle borne in heraldry sufficiently shows why the term has been transferred to spectacles, which were formerly only kept in position by the manner in which they clipped the nose; (3) that barnacles are so called from the similarity in shape to the black streak which proceeds from the upper part of the beak in a line to the corner of, and right round the eye of the bernicle, or barnacle goose (Auser bernicla). There is a strong resemblance in the mark to a pair of spectacles.
1571. Damon and Pythias (Dodsley's Old Plays), Hazlett IV., 81. These spectales put on. Grim. They be gay barnacles, yet I see never the better.
1653. Sir Thomas Urquhart, Translation of Rabelais, bk. V., ch. xxvii. They had barnacles on the handles of their faces, or spectacles at most.
The difference between spectacles and barnacles seems to be indicated in this passage. In the original French the phrase reads 'bezicles au nez.' A later quotation illustrative of the usage is:
1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. i. 'Give me the barnacles, my good youth, and who can say what nose they may bestride in two years hence?'
English Synonyms. 'Bossers'; 'gig-lamps'; 'goggles.' A man wearing these aids to sight is sometimes called 'four eyes' (q.v.).
French Synonyms. Les persiennes (popular: properly 'venetian shutters'); une vitrine (popular: literally 'a shop window,' or glass case in a museum).
2. (old cant.)—See quotation.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Barnacles (s.) . . . in the Canting Language, a pair of spectacles; also the irons or fetters worn by felons are so called; also the gratuity or reward that jockies have for buying horses for gentlemen.
Barndoor, subs, (sporting).—1. A facetious term for a target too large to be missed; i.e., as large as a barndoor. Hence barndoor practice as applied to organised battues, in which game is driven within a range from which it is impossible to escape. This can hardly be called sport; rather let it be known as 'slaughter.'
2. (cricket.)—A player who blocks every ball.
Barnet! intj. (Christ's Hospital).—Nonsense! humbug! Now obsolete.
Barnet Fair, subs. (thieves').—The hair; part of the rhyming slang (q.v.). For synonyms see Top dressing.
